Regulate fodder price, say cattle farmers

COIMBATORE: Cattle farmers in the district on Monday requested the state government to regulate fodder prices.
Just days after the government announced an increase in milk price, fodder distributors hiked prices by almost 25%, the Tamil Nadu Farmers Association said in a petition to collector K Rajamani. “The government should buy fodder and sell it to farmers at a fixed price or at least set a price,” the petition said.
The farmers were initially happy when the government increased procurement price of cow milk by Rs 4 and buffalo milk by Rs 6 on August 18, president of the association S Palanisamy said. “Private players also increased procurement price by Rs 2/litre. We welcomed the move and thought it would benefit the farmers,” he said.
But they were shocked to find that fodder prices were also increased, the petition said. “While the price of groundnut cake was increased from Rs 1,750 to Rs 2,250 for a 50kg bag, cotton seed cake is now sold for Rs 2,170/kg compared to Rs 1,800. Even the price of wheat bran mixture has shot up from Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,400.”
Fodder price has increased so much that the increase in milk prices does not make any difference anymore, Palanisamy said. “The extra profit we earn is spent on fodder.”