The heavy downpours over the last few days have taken their toll on many rural people including dairy farmers in different coastal areas across the country.
As all vessels have been advised to remain at anchor in the coastline, there has been no transport to or from Shariatpur’s Babur char. This means local milkmen cannot sell their milk.
Nasir Sheikh, an inhabitant of Babur char, said the weather has disrupted the market, causing huge financial losses.
Thousands of milk vendors supply about 7,500kg to 9,500kg of milk to local markets daily.
Amar Ghosh, a resident of Nariya upazila bazaar, said: “Every day [5,500kg to 7,500kg] of milk come to different markets from Noyapara char, Chitar Babur, Potuli, Kolmi and Kajir char of the Shariyatpur district. This milk is sold at Noriya Bazaar, Bhojashwar, Mulfatganj, Jajiya, Damudya and other markets of neighbouring districts.”
The vendors collect the milk from different houses in the village every morning and then sell it to customers. Milk-carrying boats start the journey at 7am, 8:30am and noon from different harbours in Shariatpur. With the incessant rains, these harbours have been closed down; meaning vendors cannot get to the villagers to collect the milk.
Some retailers say with the help of the government, these dairy farmers could afford preservatives for their produce, and so earn enough money from their milk.
“Many NGO’s provide loans but at the end of the day we have to repay them with interest. If the government gave interest-free loans to the coastline people they could weather the current crisis,” said Khabir Matabbar of Kajiya char.
The chairman of Bilashpur Union, Kuddus Bepari said the local MP, BM Mojammel Haque, had been made aware of the situation. Kuddus said they had also requested that the MP talk to the government about making interest-free loans available to the dairy farmers.