Handwara, Oct 28: Milk farmers in Qaziabad area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district have sought an immediate revision of milk procurement rates, saying rising costs of cattle feed, fodder and veterinary care have made dairy farming increasingly unviable.
The farmers said procurement rates had remained unchanged despite a significant increase in input costs over the past few years, squeezing their earnings and threatening their livelihoods.
“While the prices of feed, fodder and medicines have increased considerably, the rates paid to milk producers have remained stagnant,” the farmers said.
“We are currently paid only Rs 35 per litre, while the same milk sells in the market for around Rs 50-55 per litre. We work hard but receive very little in return. The gap between procurement and market prices is too wide and is affecting our livelihoods,” said Sajad Ahmad, a young farmer from Mandigam in Qaziabad.
Sajad Abdullah of Yaroo said he had purchased two cows in the hope that dairy farming would help support his family, but rising expenses and low procurement rates had made it difficult to sustain the business.
“I bought two cows believing dairy farming would provide a stable source of income. However, with low procurement rates and increasing feed costs, it has become extremely difficult to continue,” he said.
He added that higher transportation and veterinary expenses had further increased the financial burden on small dairy farmers.
“If the situation continues, many small dairy farmers like me may be forced to abandon the profession,” he said.
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