Dairy Farmers Association (DFA) has demanded of the government to import cottonseed oilcake (khalee) from India, Brazil, and South Africa to avoid hike in milk prices and its related commodities.
"Khalee (cottonseed oilcake) is the staple feed of dairy animals and its prices have flared up, which is unbearable for dairy farmers," said a statement received here on Tuesday. "During June, 2005, khalee (cottonseed oilcake) was available in the open market at Rs 500 per 50 kg sack, while the same sack is now being sold at Rs 950 in the local market," said the statement.
It further said that the poor dairy farmers could not afford such exorbitant price and there are about 0.5 million domestic animals in the city while daily consumption of each animal is around two kg khalee. The dairy farmers have also demanded of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) that it should take pragmatic measures to save the dairy sector from further decline.-PR