Punjab farmers gain as wheat fodder prices rise

Known as grain-bowl of the country, Punjab is now selling wheat fodder to dairy farmers and paper mills to meet the rising demand in the other states of the country.

Crawling vehicles carrying huge stocks of wheat fodder are very common on the national and state highways of the state as the prices of wheat fodder has increased manifold in the last two months, due to rising demand in Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal.

Eying big margin, fodder sellers from these states, especially from Haryana, are making repeated rounds to Punjab, where the use of fodder is comparatively less.

“Yes, we are earning big profits. Besides, the transport charges of about ` 100 per quintal, we earn ` 300-400 per quintal of wheat fodder, which is easily available in Punjab at ` 400-500 per quintal”, said Yamunanagar- based wheat fodder trader Jai Ram.

“The only problem is transportation, as wheat fodder requires big vehicles for transportation. Therefore, most of the wheat fodder transportation is done during the night hours when the traffic is very less”, he added.

Another trader, Jashraj from Churu, Rajasthan said: “Though, the traders have already sold huge stock of wheat fodder from the districts of Patiala and Sangrur, now we are approaching border districts like Ferozepur, Amritsar and Muktsar, where it is available at lower prices”

According to experts, the production of wheat fodder depends on the production of wheat, with an average one acre of wheat produces 20 quintals of wheat fodder (almost similar to wheat production), if the crop was harvested with hand. But the fodder production is less by five quintal per acre in field harvested with the combine harvesters.