Profit dries up, wool producers and dairy farmers make a shift

By Vindhya Pabolu

Adecline in wool production has put producers in Karnataka in a tight spot. The state recorded a decrease of 39 per cent in 2021 compared to 2020, as per CEIC Data, a global database. Officials say many farmers quit wool production because they did not earn profit.

Nagaraj D N, assistant director, Karnataka Sheep and Wool Development Corporation, informed The

which can give fleece. The government is supporting sheep (rearing) only for meat purposes rather than for wool production. The demand for wool has decreased. We are not able to make profits, as we used to before 2015. Now we are in losses.”

Satyappa Biru Hazare, another sheep farm owner, shared: “These days sheep are only preferred for meat consumption rather than wool production.,”

Sheep rearers find it difficult to contimue with the wool production

By Yukta Mudgal

Farmers who sell themilk to the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) say they are being paid less than what they should be paid.

Hanumantappa, 70, a dairy farmer in Kenchanapalya, said he sold two cows a few years ago and now only sells the milk of one cow to KMF. “We cried after selling our cows.” enough to pass the fat test set by KMF. He also spends on fodder and treatment.

He sells four litres of milk.

Chandrappa, another dairy farmer, said they should get a bonus to help them meet the expenses of cattle rearing. “We have five cows but we still don’t earn enough profit. All the money goes into taking care of them. Sometimes we get Rs 23, sometimes Rs 32, depending on the fat content in the milk.”

Hanumanth, a middleman in

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Sheep are raised more for their meat rather than for their wool production in the state | Courtesy: Dhananjay Rao

Observer: “Most of the people are quitting wool farming and shifting to other sectors …. If people are quitting, where will the government get the wool from?”

Ramesh Ayodhi, a weaver, said: “I used to produce wool from sheep fleece, but in the past three to four years I have refrained from doing so because the demand for silk and cotton material was higher than that for wool. I was not able to get profits from wool so I quit from wool sector.”

Gopal Krishna, who owns a sheep farm, shared: “There are a lot of hairy sheep rather than sheep

●Mating of sheep has decreased, reducing their numbers

●Rearing of sheep for meat has increased considerably

●Government support limited to sheep-rearing for meat

●Hairy sheep are more than those that can yield fleece as the government officials are supporting and motivating into rear the sheep for meat production rather than wool and has been more into hair sheep breeding .

Continued on page 3

Cows and buffaloes produce less amount of milk as the summer is a lean season affecting the production | Credit: Yukta M

His wife Narasamma works the whole day taking care of the cow, but theyearn no profit by selling her milk for Rs 31 to Rs 35 a litre, depending on the thickness of the milk produced.

Those who sell milk to private companies like Dodla get Rs 40 to Rs 60 a litre. Hanumantappasaid he earns no profit and cannot switch to private companies as he has been selling milk he produced to KMF for a long time.

He buys groundnut cake for Rs 1,400 every two months for his cow to make the milk thick milkdistribution, said farmers are paid Rs 29 a litre which is too less. “They should at least pay Rs 32 per litre.” After spending around Rs 30,000 on fodder and proteins, farmers only earn Rs 10,000 a month.

The price of milk is calculated on its thickness.

Dilip Kumar, Senior Technician at Mandya Unit of KMF said: “In my 35 years of experience, shortage of milk is normal after every 10 years in Karnataka state.”

Continued on page 3

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