As scarcity and drought loom in Maharashtra, livestock prices plummet to half

The scanty rainfall in several parts of Maharashtra that has caused a scarcity situation has yet another side effect — livestock prices have plummeted to almost half the rates they normally fetch.

Confirming this, Rajendra Attarde, president of the Crops Protection Committee of Nanded in Jalgaon said a cow that was usually sold for anything between Rs 20,000-22,000 was now only fetching Rs 8,000- Rs 10,000. Nanded is considered to be one of the biggest cattle markets in the state and the market pulse as such is decided here.

"A hybrid or a Jersey cow is being sold at the rate of Rs 30,000-to-Rs 35,000 as against the earlier price of Rs 55,000 to Rs 70,000. Prices for buffaloes, too, have gone down from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.25 lakh to Rs 55000 to Rs 70000. Even the bullock pairs are being sold for a mere Rs 55,000 to Rs 60,000 as against their earlier value of Rs 1.25 lakh to Rs 1.50 lakh," Attarde added. He claimed that this was due to scarcity situation in large parts of the state.

Niteen Markandeya, a professor at the College of Veterinary and Animal Science in Parbhani, Marathwada said that the fall in livestock prices was drastic, and it happened over a fortnight. 

Marathwada, North Maharashtra and a few parts of Vidarbha and western Maharashtra are facing a severe drought situation this year, as several of these areas received 23 per cent less than normal rainfall this year, according to the state agriculture department.

The state government is yet to officially declare a drought and Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that a decision will be made by the end of this month.

"Keeping livestock is no longer affordable. This year, the kharif harvest has been ruined and we are likely to receive just about 60 per cent yield. There is no hope from rabi season as well since there's no water. Farmers don't have money to buy fodder from markets, as it is extremely costly and there is no water. For our own consumption, we get water once a week, where will we get water for our animals? That's why several farmers are selling off their livestock instead of watching them suffer," said Atul Nemade from Dharangaon in north Maharashtra, who keeps watch on agriculture development and works for Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.

"The government has not hiked milk rates even though fodder rates have gone through the roof. A farmer is forced to sell the milk at Rs 27 per litre while we are asking for Rs 37 per litre. It's just not feasible for us anymore. You visit any weekly animal market and you will find them flooded with sellers. Usually, about 300 to 500 animals are sold in a day there, but these days, more than 3,000 animals are being sold as the farmers are really stressed," said Nemade.

V Bachate, head of a cattle market at Solapur told DNA that their weekly cattle market was flooded with mainly buffaloes and bullocks. He admitted prices of livestock had gone down drastically. "In our market, no farmers are rebuying the animals. Most of the buying of livestock is happening under the government schemes only," Bachate said.

Raju Shetti, Shetkari Sanghatna leader and the Lok Sabha MP from Hatkanangle, said it was about time the government acted in a swift manner instead of misguiding and confusing farmers over technicalities.