Karachi facing Shortage of Wheat Straw amid Highway Authorities’ Restrictions, price may reach 2000 per mond
The Dairy and Cattle Farmers Association Pakistan has issued an urgent appeal to the Chief Justice Sindh High Court, Chief Minister Sindh and IG National Highway Police. The association says that the sudden and strict ban on wheat straw carrying vehicles on the National Highway has created a severe humanitarian and economic crisis in the city. It will lead to a shortage of wheat straw in Karachi and impact dairy production.
The farmers took the stand that after the implementation of the overloading rules, the National Highway Police has completely stopped straw-supplying vehicles at Jamshoro. As against about 300 trucks that reach Karachi daily, only 25 vehicles were able to enter the city on Monday. Due to this situation, milk-producing animals are facing severe animal feed shortage. They say that if this situation continues, thousands of animals are likely to die of starvation, which could become a major animal rights issue.
Livestock Feed Companies and Dairy Feed Companies in Pakistan
Shortage of Wheat Straw
According to the farmers, the shortage of straw has also adversely affected prices in the market. Straw, which was being sold for Rs 1,000 per maund till yesterday, suddenly increased to Rs 1,200 per maund. The price may increase upto On the other hand, after the Commissioner Karachi fixed the price of milk below the cost of production, farmers say that expensive food and low government rates are rapidly bankrupting them, which has increased the risk of milk short Rs. 2000 per mond in the city.
Livestock Feed Companies and Dairy Feed Companies in Pakistan
The dairy farmers have pleaded in their appeal that the problem is not with the implementation of the law but with not being given adequate time for it. They say that straw is a light but space-consuming material, which is the only solution to be “pressed” to prevent overloading. However, it takes time to install press machines.
Farmers have requested the authorities to grant conditional permission for straw supply vehicles for at least 6 months on humanitarian grounds, during which time vendors should be required to install press machines, while all vehicles stopped in Jamshoro should be ordered to leave immediately to avoid a severe shortage of food and milk in the city.
