NAVALGUND, DHARWAD: THE harsh realities of summer are beginning to bite villagers in northern parts of Karnataka. Unable to procure fodder, villagers near Navalgund have resorted to selling their cattle to middlemen and slaughterhouses.
A similar situation is most likely to prevail across the state as the scorching heat of February is just giving a hint of what is in store during the peak season, which may further aggravate the fodder scarcity. In Shirur and Ayatti villages of Navalgund taluk, more than 500 cattle-heads have been sold in the last fortnight, and more livestock are up for sale. Most of the cattle owners are selling their animals at throwaway prices. Many coveted pair of oxen have been sold for Rs 30,000 where the original price was Rs 1 lakh.
Both villages are located about 35 km from Hubballi and have been reeling under drought for over two years. This year due to poor monsoon, many wetlands in the region have gone dry and fodder banks run by the government are unable to cater to all villages.
Mallikarjun Gouda, a villager from Shirur, said that rearing livestock is becoming difficult. “There is hardly any water and the nearest government fodder distribution point is 40 km away. We are unable to get fodder for livestock and it’s hard to see the animals suffer without food and water,” he said.
That’s the reason, he said, a few of the villagers took a decision to sell their cattle and many others have followed suit. And with news of mass cattle selling sprea ding among middlemen, many of them have started making rounds of these two villages.
But many others are waiting, keeping their faith in the administration, hoping that some support will come their way.