MYSURU: : Milk production in Mysuru and Chamarajnagar districts has seen a sharp decline in the last few months due to the prevailing drought situation in the region.
The production was 8.39 lakh litres in both the districts put together in July which was the peak season, now it has come down to 6.05 lakh litres.
Though there will be a drop in the production after the rainy season, a sharp drop like this was not witnessed during the previous years.
In fact, the production now has come down by over 25,000 litres a day compared to Mymul’s average annual production which is 6.29 lakh litres.
Sources said the decline in milk production has come early this year, thus triggering fears among farmers and milk traders of further decline in the coming months especially during summer.
Mymul director Shivalingegowda said normally the milk production will either go up or it will be stable during November-December.
“June-July is the peak season. In August-September, it will come down and then again in November, it will increase by 10-15 per cent. This is due to green shoots that can be seen all over, following a spell of rain during Deepavali. But this year, the rain stayed away during Deepavali thus hitting the milk production early,” he said.
He said in the last few years, though the milk production did not increase during November, it was stable. But this year it is not so. He attributed it to the severe shortage of fodder and drinking water across the districts and a summer-like situation which has set in early. “There will be cold only for a few hours in the morning and after that it is like summer,” he said.
However, Shivalingegowda said the decline in milk production has not hit the supply side because of low sales in the local market. He said their sales within the state is just 3 lakh litres a day and the remaining goes to neighbouring states and is converted into milk powder.
Ban on supply of fodder
The district administration has banned the transportation of fodder from the district to outside the state in the wake of drought. The check posts have been alerted to keep a strict vigil in this regard.