Christanand Pednekar
QUEPEM: The once-thriving milk business in Avadem, Quepem is now on the brink of closure, with only three dairy farmers remaining in the village. Agriculture and dairy farming used to be the lifeblood of this village, but now the new generation seems to have lost interest in this traditional way of life, preferring instead to pursue government jobs.
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Chandrakant Naik, a milk business owner and farmer in Avadem, expressed his concerns about the current situation. “This business started in my family about 30 to 35 years ago, but the same enthusiasm for dairy farming as there used to be is not seen anymore,” he said. “My wife and I still run the business, but our children are not very interested in it. I do not want to
pressure them either,” he shrugs.
The lack of interest from the new generation has caused most of the milk traders to sell their buffaloes and cows. Naik added that maintenance of the milch animals and food expenses make it difficult to turn a profit, especially in the face of inflation.
Laxman Rama Prabhu Desai, another milk businessman in Avadem, believes that there is still life in this business, but it requires government support. “The youth ignores this business. It is hard, gruelling work, so it is very important for the government to provide support and subsidies and encourage milk businessmen,” he said. “Agriculture and dairy farming are interdependent on each other, and more farmers have stopped paddy farming, which has also affected the milk business to a great extent.”
Despite the challenges they face, both Naik and Prabhu Desai remain committed to their businesses. Prabhu Desai said, “If we want to do this business, we should do it ourselves. If we give it to someone else, it will not benefit us. We get support from the government for dairy farming, but due to the neglect of the younger generation, this business is in a state of closure in Avadem.
Currently, there are only three farmers engaged in the milk business in our village.”
Without intervention, dairy
farming, which has been an integral part of this village for years, may soon be lost forever.
