Farmers Forced To Sell Cattle In Drought-Hit Karnataka, But Not Many Takers

Challakere, Chitradurga district: Hard-pressed to provide enough fodder and water at a time of drought, many farmers in Karnataka are now trying to sell their cattle. At a cattle fair on a highway near Challakere in Chitradurga district, farmers can be seen cleaning horns and washing bullocks under the merciless May sun.

But there are more sellers than buyers at the fair that is running from April 25 to May 8. The animals had been brought in from around Challakere and also from the neighbouring Tumkur district.

Jayaram Naika, who travelled from Sira taluk in Tumkur district, told NDTV, "I have brought three pairs to sell. We are selling because there is no fodder. No water. But nobody is buying them. There is no good rate." He was expecting between Rs 30,000 to 50,000 for a pair of bullocks.

Subhash Reddy of Hiriyur taluk of Chitradurga district had come to see the cattle and sympathised with the sellers. "No rain. No crops. So what can they do keeping them? So they sell them," he said.

Heeranna of Hiriyur taluk also felt he had no choice but to sell.

"We have brought two pairs. We want to keep them but we can't. Now we are getting only half the rate," he said.

Some farmers appealed for government run goshalas - shelters where they could leave their cattle through the difficult, dry summer and collect them when the rains come.

Chitradurga minister in charge, H Anjaneya, told NDTV, "We have enough goshalas in this district."

The minister was on an inspection round of government goshalas and sounded convinced that there need be no distress sale of livestock. But, not all the farmers in the district agree.