Dairy farmers who supply milk to Sonagazi Milk Vita Factory in Feni alleged that they are not receiving fair prices for their produce, resulting in hard times for the farmers of 24 cooperative societies.
Poschim Char Gonesh Dugdho Uthpadonkari Samabay Samity President, Md Mostafa Wadud said, authorities of the state run cooperative dairy, Milk Vita pay Tk40-45 per litre of liquid milk whereas milk is sold at Tk60 per litre in the local markets, according to banglanews.
“Moreover, we are also unable to get food for our cows at reasonable price,” he added.
He said other facilities for farmers such as loans with low interest, adequate medicine for cattle and a deep tube-well are yet to be provided.
Nasir Uddin, president of Uttar Char Chandia Dugdho Uthpadonkari Samabay Samity said, “Though years have passed, we have yet to be given land to harvest grass to feed our cattle.” “The post of factory’s veterinary surgeon still remains vacant and the only upazila livestock hospital is almost 10-km from Mangalkandi union’s Rajapur village, which is why the villagers face problems in treating their sick cattle,” he added.
Sources said the factory established a milk refrigeration system with a daily storage capacity of 5,000 litres in 2008, created a lot of enthusiasm among the milk producers of the area.
The factory was initially set up in a rented two-storey building in Char Gonesh village under Sonagazi municipality.
However, even after five years, the authorities do not own any land and are reluctant in taking initiatives to build a preservation centre on its own premises.
For the last four years, only 1,200 litres of milk was stored daily, although the storage capacity is much higher.
Md Main Uddin Ahmed, manager of Sonagazi Milk Vita factory, said: “We are currently searching for lands and we have submitted a letter to the high officials regarding the vacant post of veterinary surgeon.”
Regarding the low preservation of milk, he said it is difficult to preserve milk due to the frequent power cuts.
