Buffalo rearing makes Rajshahi farmers self-reliant

Small-scale buffalo farming is helping farmers of the Rajshahi region become self-dependent.

Not only that, this practice is playing a pivotal role in boosting milk and meat production through the best uses of modern technologies in the region.

At least 1.22 lakh buffaloes are being reared in over 1,000 farming houses throughout the eight districts of the division, said Dr Uttam Kumar Das, director of the Rajshahi divisional livestock office.

The breeders and rearers of Natore district’s Boraigram, Gurudaspur, and Singra upazilas are paving the way for small-scale farming in the region, having the highest number of dairy farms and animals as well as producing the highest amount of milk and dairy products.

According to the livestock office of Natore, rearers of the district are currently rearing 7,248 buffaloes in 611 farms. Lalpur is leading the way by raising 5,508 buffaloes in 380 farms, said Dr Goulam Mostafa, livestock officer of Natore.

During a recent visit to Arani Bakna Char of Lalpur, at least 15 farms were seen rearing at least 300 buffaloes.

One of the rearers, Md Shimul, told The Business Post six of his 10 buffaloes produce five to seven litres of milk.

“I earn Tk 1,200-1,300 every day from the milk. The prices are fixed upon the amount of cream present in the milk,” he said, adding he also earns by selling his buffaloes to slaughterhouses.

He further mentioned that he makes a profit of Tk 2 lakh from his farm every year, excluding all production costs.

Pankaj Ghosh, a milkman of Nagshosha area of the upazila, said this is their ancestral profession. He, along with three other milkmen of the area, buys milk from these farms early in the morning every day and makes different dairy products, such as cheese, cream, and ghee (clarified butter).

He said: “If we get at least 150 grammes of cream in a kilogramme of milk, we pay Tk 70 to the rearers. Firstly, we separate the cream from the milk to make ghee, and then we process the rest to make cheese. Around 450 grammes of ghee can be made with a kilogramme of cream.”

Furthermore, they sell this cheese to sweet makers, who turn these into different delicious desserts, such as rosogolla, chomchom, kachagolla, etc. “We get Tk 800 for a kilogramme of ghee and Tk 300 for a kilogramme of cream,” Pankaj said.

Nazrul Islam, proprietor of Shefali Hotel and Mistanno Bhandar near Natore’s Uttara Gonobhaban, said sweets made from these pure and quality dairy products are popular across the country and have great demand.

Md Selim, a meat trader of Madrasa Bazar, said buffalo meat is gradually becoming popular among locals for its low price, quality, and nutritional benefits.

He added that he makes a profit of Tk 3,000-4,000 every day, excluding all costs.

Addressing the issue, Dr Uttam said they are trying to come up with a mixed-breed buffalo from local and Indian breeds, which they expect would produce more milk than the local ones.

“We are trying to assist the farm owners so that they can make the best use of their resources and increase production,” he added.