The miseries due to prolonged winter continue to rise for the residents of Chenab Valley, especially those living in rural areas and higher reaches, as the cattle farmers are struggling to deal with the aftermath of heavy snowfall.
The prolonged winter, with regular spells of heavy snowfallsince mid November, is pertinently one of the worst in recent times. It is notonly directly affecting the grasslands and farming areas, creating scarcity offodder for livestock, but the accumulated snow in wheat and oat fields hasstarted taking a toll on livestock animals, thereby leaving the farmers ofChenab Valley worried.
Reports said, “Out of the total population of 11 lakh inChenab Valley, a whopping six lakh are directly or indirectly involved inlivestock farming. Most of the cattle farmers reside in hilly slopes and highaltitude areas of the region, thereby making them and their animals morevulnerable to the effects of snow and harsh weather.”
Dr Shah Nawaz Sheikh, incharge livestock development officer, Bhaderwah, said, “Sixty percent of the population in district Doda is partially or completely dependent on livestock farming. The prolonged winters has not only delayed the crop of green fodder by 40 days, but has also continued to remain accumulated on natural grasslands. This surely affects livestock farming.”
Aslam Khatana, a resident of Darie-Bhalessa, said, “Normallywe used to get green fodder by March 15, but this year, due to prolongedwinters, we have not received anything. We have also exhausted all the dryfodder we had stored. Our fields are still covered with 3 to 4 feet of snow.Under these circumstances, it is becoming impossible to feed our cattle, as wehave neither access to dry fodder not can we afford it.”
A resident of Kota Top, Saif Din Dhakkad, said, “I have lostfour sheep and I am worried about what remains of my cattle as I have exhaustedall my resources to collect fodder. We are in need of immediate help.”
Although the administration is yet to take any measures toextend any kind of help to the livestock farmers, but the scientists of KrishiVigyan Kendra have come up with an advisory. “This is a grave situation forlivestock farmers. The only thing they can do right now is to give minimum dryfodder and some nutrients to their cattle, so that they survive the leanperiod,” head KVK Doda, Dr Amit Singh Charak, said.
“As soon as the weather clears and snow melts from thefields, farmers should put 1.5 kilogram per kanal to wheat and oat crop,” headvised.