Pokhara, November 2

Farmers in Kaski have been hit hard due to acute shortage of fuel caused by the protracted agitation in the Tarai and border blockade. Shortage of fuel has obstructed supply of fertilisers and raw materials required for livestock farming.

Disruptions in the import of feed for chicken, pigs and goats has put various large agro-based firms in jeopardy. Pig Firm Pokhara Live Stock Private Limited Proprietor Chhyam Thapa said the shortage of feed for pigs had posed a serious problem. “I am having a hard time due to the shortage of animal feed,” Thapa complained.

He added that the border blockade had dealt a blow to his business just as he was trying to recover the losses caused by the April 25 earthquake. Thapa said they were having a tough time bringing in medicines required for pigs. Thapa’s firm at Lekhnath is home to more than 2,000 pigs and is first of its kind to produce piglets through artificial conception.

Meanwhile, the shortage of fodder has affected various cow firms in Kaski. Nand Prasad Adhikary, operator of Gauri Shankar Agro Firm in Lekhnath, complained that he was forced to sell only 40 litres of milk on a daily basis though he had been selling 100 litres before the blockade. Adhikary asked the government to seek a solution to the ongoing unrest and help the farmers at the earliest.

Farmer Krishna Bahadur Gurung from Majheripat, Pokhara said the swine flu followed by earthquake and ongoing Tarai agitation had put his profession into risk. “Our profession is in peril as we are unable to bring in necessary raw materials from Chitwan, Bhairahawa and Biratnagar due to the fuel crisis,” Gurung said.