LODHRAN: The exceptional hike in the prices of dry wheat husk/stem (locally called Bhoon, also toori in central Punjab), used as fodder for the cattle, because of its export to Gulf states, has made it difficult for the local farmers to properly feed their livestock.

The prices of dry wheat husk keep varying throughout the year. In May and June its usual price ranges between Rs150 and Rs175 per 40kg, as its the time of the year when it is abundantly available everywhere after the threshing of wheat. In August and September, it is sold at Rs200-Rs250 per 40kg and in November and December at Rs350-450 per 40kg. However, the current rate of dry wheat husk is Rs500-Rs600 per 40 kg, whereas in some urban areas it has reached up to Rs700.

Farmers Ghulam Rasool, Chaudhry Ameen and Chaudhry Ashraf told Dawn, the rate was exceptionally high this season. They said that during the previous years, the husk rate would maximum go up to Rs300 or so per 40kg. They said they were also unable to afford alternate dry fodder -- sugarcane husk -- this season because the sugarcane rate was high as sugar mills were purchasing it at Rs200 per 40kg .

Commenting on the situation, a local farmer said the rates of this dry fodder had shot this season because brokers were purchasing it in bulk and selling it in big cities for onward export to Gulf states like UAE and Qatar after pressing it into bales.

A husk seller, Mr Tajamal, told Dawn he bought husk from farmers in bulk in the April and May and stored it. From November, he said, he started pressing it into bales and selling to the dealers in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. He said some of his friends were also exporting it to UAE and Qatar. He said in this part of the year, there was always a shortage of wheat husk, adding that he had recently purchased it at Rs600 per 40kg and was now ready to buy it at Rs800 but could not find any seller.

He said he had to supply 12 trailers each month to the dealers in big cities and one trailer contained around 28,000kg husk.

“These are just my figures and there are many other brokers in Lodhran who have installed their own pressing machines and are producing bales for farms in big cities,” Tajamal said.

Farmers demand the district administration should intervene and ban husk transportation to other cities to bring down the prices so that they could feed their livestock on this dry fodder that used to be a cheap option for them.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2019