Paktia dairy products hard hit by powdered milk

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): A number of dairy cow farmers in southeastern Paktia say the rising cost of animal feed, the widespread availability of powdered milk and low-quality dairy products have severely affected their businesses, leaving them on the verge of collapse.

Abdul Qadeer, who owns a dairy farm in the provincial capital, Gardez, told Pajhwok Afghan News that due to the high prices of animal feed and the poor state of the dairy market, he had been forced to reduce the number of cows.

He called on the Department of Agriculture and aid organisations to establish dairy-processing centres and to impose a ban on the sale of powdered milk and yoghurt.

He said: “The main issue is the absence of dairy-processing and packaging facilities. Even if someone sets up a farm, it quickly fails.

“I currently have 40 cows, but I am incurring losses because powdered milk is cheaply available in the market, and we cannot compete with it.”

Another farmer, Qalandar, also said that he had very few cows remaining on his farm due to the rising cost of animal feed and poor market conditions.

He added: “I sold some of my cows because the feed is expensive, and powdered milk is being sold in the market. We cannot sell our milk at such low prices.”

Both farmers warned that if the government did not address their concerns, they would be forced to shut down their businesses.

Mehrab Gul, a dairy vendor in Gardez, confirmed the availability of powdered milk was harming the market for locally-produced dairy products.

He said: “Because powdered milk is of low quality, it is cheaper and that’s why shopkeepers sell it. We urge the government will ban powdered milk to support local farmers.”

Abdul Basir Kochi, the livestock manager at Paktia’s Department of Agriculture, said 15 standard farms across the province were registered with the department.

The farms collectively produced hundreds of kilograms of milk daily, he said, adding efforts were underway to establish a standard dairy-processing centre.

The official revealed the authorities were considering slapping a ban on the sale of powdered milk to improve the market for domestic products.

sa/mud