MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Dairy farmers on Monday threatened to stage a sit-in with livestock in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Kashmir, if their demands are not met.
Diary farm owners said that the Muzaffarabad district administration is not considering the report of its own government’s Livestock Department, nor is it increasing the rate of milk. Now our livelihood is not possible with the old rate, they said.
According to the dairy farm owners, two months ago, the district administration itself calculated the milk rate for the Livestock Department, examined all the processes, and sought expert opinion.
The department examined all the farms in Muzaffarabad, calculated the difference and expenses, and gave a rate of Rs 257 per kg, but the district administration refuses to accept its own government’s report.
Talking to the media, they questioned the rates of diesel and petrol two months ago and today. “A bundle of straw, which was 1000 rupees five days ago, has now reached 1500 to 18000 rupees,” the dairy farm owners highlighted.
Now, if the district administration does not determine the milk rate as per our demands, we will hold a sit-in on the main highways with hundreds of our animals, and we will not accept the forced strangulation of this industry.
They further said that we will fully cooperate with the administration on strict action against those who sell second-rate milk.
“But this attitude towards people who have opened farms by investing crores of rupees and are investing in their city is no longer acceptable,” the owners said.
