Lock down and loss to dairy farming | Government should help the farmers

This is 2020 and the Novel Corona Virus Disease (nCOVID-19) has entered in Pakistan and causing serious losses not only to the public health but also to the country economy.The provincial governments of Sindh and Punjab have announced complete lock downs in their provinces owing to losses due to novel corona virus disease. This lock down put the dairy farmers along with other businesses in severe economic losses. Dairy farmers in Pakistan are facing some serious problems some of which are explained below. How to start dairy farming in Pakistan? Read here

Feed shortage due to Novel Corona Virus Disease (nCOVID-19)

Ration for livestock has suddenly disappeared from the market and the feed ingredients for dairy cows like wheat straw, rice straw, green fodder, wheat bran, rice police, rapeseed cake, canola meal, soybean and palm kernel prices are risen to such a level that a dairy farmer with average resources is not able to buy them. What are some commonly used animal protein sources available in Pakistan, Click here to read

Lock down and loss to dairy farming | Government should help the farmers

This shortage in the feed supply has put pressure on the milk production capacity in the dairy farms which has fallen down approximately to half its original amount within a month. Following this shortage in milk supply, cities like Karachi and Lahore will suffer for sure. Along with this, life of thousands of animals is at risk due to fodder shortage.

Milk and milk products demand decreases following lock down

Due to lock down in Punjab and Sindh, hotels, restaurants, ice cream parlors and dahi and lassi shops have been closed. This decreased the milk products demand in the market and resulted in decreased rates of raw milk along the country. Dairy farmers are in a serious trouble as they are now unable to bear the expenses of animal feed, labor wages, utility bills and medicine for the animals. Do you know of world's smallest cow? Click here

In some areas the demand of milk has declined so sharply that the dairy farmers can do nothing but to waste the extra milk for no income. Karachi dairy farmers have appealed to Prime Minister of Pakistan, Cheif Minister Sindh and other related authorities to take action and announce subsidies for dairy farmers so that this industry could be saved from severe crises.