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Dairy farmers bemoan lack of water, fodder for their cattle
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The excessive heat is also affecting farmers engaged in animal husbandry around the country. “In protecting our cattle, the main obstacle currently is the prevailing dry climate,” said the Animal Husbandry Committee member H Priyantha.
Among the farmers who raised their concerns was B. Sarath of Waligammulla, who said, “Through the Farmers’ Association we got some cows and were able to get a good income by selling its milk to the Lilico Company. But now we find it difficult to get water and fodder for the cattle due to this dry climate.”
Another farmer, B. Kamalawathie from Kiragama said, “It is very difficult to get fodder and water for the cattle. Waterways are going dry. There are waterways in the interior, by the main roads, but our animals are not used to them.”
Mr. Priyantha further added that this problem could be successfully tackled by supplying alternate, manmade food and sufficient water.
Pix by W.A. Nelka