Headache over hay: Livestock farmers grapple with surging costs

A nationwide surge in hay prices is pushing livestock farmers into crisis, with prices in some areas exceeding those of rice.

The scarcity of fodder, worsened by the recent floods across the country, has created challenges for both small and large-scale farmers, disrupting livestock and dairy production. Farmers are grappling with skyrocketing hay prices.

In Lakshmipur, a kilogram of hay is selling for Tk30, while a maund (40 kg) costs Tk1,200, surpassing the price of rice, which is slightly over Tk1,000 per maund.

Farmers in Naogaon, Kurigram, and Bogura report similar difficulties, with hay prices climbing to Tk900-1000 per maund, up from Tk600-700 last year.

Farhad Hossain from Topar Char in Kurigram's Roumari upazila attributed the price hike to floods in the eastern region.

"Last year, hay cost Tk20-25 per kilogram. This year, it is Tk30-40," he said, adding that rising costs of human food compound the issue.

Golam Mostafa from Bhimpur village in Naogaon Sadar, who keeps five cows, shared that grazing fields have largely disappeared as landowners prioritise cultivation.

"Our cows now depend entirely on cultivated grass and hay, but the rising costs make it difficult to sustain," he said.

Touhid Parvez Biplob, a cattle farm owner in Bogura, stressed the necessity of hay for cattle despite its limited nutritional value.

"Without hay, cows develop loose stools, making it indispensable," he explained.

However, he warned that escalating fodder costs would increase the overall expense of raising cattle, ultimately burdening consumers.

Limon Sarkar, a lawyer-turned-farmer in Bogura's Shibganj upazila, echoed similar concerns. Running a farm with 65 cows, he has struggled with rising costs despite his passion for animal husbandry.

"Hay demand is soaring, but this will likely shift farmers towards granular feed," he predicted.

When the Aman paddy harvest is ready, hay typically costs Tk600-800 per bundle, prompting farmers to stockpile it.

Nimai Mondal, a Khulna farmer with five cows, said his stored hay recently ran out.

"I had to buy four bundles for Tk1,200. We cannot stop feeding the cows, and the fields are full of ripe paddy, so we cannot feed them field grass."

He noted hay prices rise annually this season, "In 20 or 30 days, the new Aman paddy will be threshed. Hopefully, the hay price will then decrease."

In Lakshmipur, farmers have seen unprecedented profits from selling hay.

Faiz Ahmed, a retired agricultural officer farming in Sadar upazila, earned Tk70,000 from hay this season, compared to just Tk5,000 last year.

Ajit Pal from Char Badam area sold hay from his one-acre land for Tk50,000, earning more than he did from the paddy.

Similarly, Mohammad Montaj from Char Kalkini sold hay from his 80-decimal land for Tk35,000 and made an additional Tk10,000 profit per truckload by reselling hay.

However, livestock farmers in the district are severely affected.

Mohammad Alauddin, a dairy farmer from Kamalnagar upazila, reported spending Tk6.5 lakh on hay this year, up from Tk2 lakh previously. 

Cattle farmers Yousuf, Siraj and Sabuj of Sadar upazila face similar struggles.

Yousuf's 20 cattle are malnourished due to the lack of fresh grass and expensive hay. "I have raised these cattle for five months, but I can only sell them at half the price now," he lamented.

Impact on milk and meat production 

The Lakshmipur District Livestock Department noted that recent floods damaged 13,791 acres of grazing land and 153 acres of cultivated grass.

Lakshmipur Department of Agricultural Extension Deputy Director Sohel Md Shamsuddin Firoz revealed that only 35,770 hectares of Aman paddy were cultivated this season, against a target of 83,200 hectares. The reduced yield has intensified the fodder crisis.

Farmers in Bogura also face challenges. The district has approximately 13 lakh cows and buffaloes, all requiring hay daily.

Bogura's Livestock Officer Mohammad Anisur Rahman stressed the importance of hay for cattle digestion and stomach health. He urged farmers to cultivate more grass, as each cow needs 15-20 kilograms of grass per day.

Joynal, a farmer in Lakshmipur, reported a 50% drop in milk production due to reduced fodder availability.

"The younger cattle are becoming emaciated from lack of food," he said, voicing fears about the impact on the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha and the overall meat market.

Livestock experts recommend that farmers adapt to the crisis by focusing on grass cultivation.

Lakshmipur's Livestock Officer Kumud Ranjan Mitra said that the district's 1,676 cattle farms and 170 buffalo farms are already seeing disruptions in milk and meat production.

"Farmers must be encouraged to grow more grass to alleviate the fodder shortage," he advised.

With hay prices surging nationwide, farmers are calling for immediate measures to address the crisis, which threatens to undermine the country's livestock sector.