- Immediate ban on industrial use of wheat straw essential to save dairy sector
Perspective of Mr. Shakir Umer Gujjar, President Dairy and Cattle Farmers Association of Pakistan (DCFA)
Mr Shakir Umer Gujjar while talking to PAKISTAN & GULF ECONOMIST, gave his perspective on the prevention of the livestock and food crisis caused by the use of wheat straw as fuel in cement factories.
The excerpts are as follows:
I wish to draw urgent attention of the concerned authorities to a severe economic, livestock, and food security issue that is causing devastation to the dairy and meat industry and fueling inflation for the general public in Sindh province, particularly in Karachi.
The current situation is that to save energy costs, cement factories and other large industries are purchasing vast quantities of wheat straw and burning it as fuel in their boilers. This straw is the primary and most affordable source of fodder for our animals.
This practice is resulting in the following catastrophic effects:
- Acute Fodder Shortage and Price Hike: Due to the diversion of straw to the industry, there is a critical shortage in the market, and prices have skyrocketed.
- Increased Cost of Production for Milk and Meat: The expensive fodder makes it extremely difficult for farmers to sustain livestock, directly increasing the cost of production for milk and meat.
- Inflationary Burden on the Public: The rise in production costs compels us to increase the market prices of milk and meat, affecting the common consumer’s purchasing power and leading to food insecurity. Milk and meat have moved beyond the reach of the average consumer.
As the President of the Dairy and Cattle Farmers Association, I strongly appeal to the concerned authorities to:
- Immediately issue orders for a complete and permanent ban on the industrial use (burning in boilers) of wheat straw and other animal fodder.
- Implement an immediate regulatory framework and strict monitoring system to ensure compliance with this ban.
This is a matter of food for both humans and animals. If timely action is not taken, the dairy sector will collapse, and the public will face further escalation in the prices of essential food items.