At a time when the State government has been encouraging youth to pursue dairy farming as part of self-employment avenues, farmers in Sanguem taluka are beginning to lose interest in dairy farming or are facing difficulties in the business due to lack of support and assistance from the government.  

In one such case, Anish Naik, a dairy farmer from Netravali-Sanguem, has sought improved facilities for dairy farmers from Sanguem Taluka at the local veterinary centre.  

Naik, an upcoming dairy farmer in his twenties, informed that the local government veterinary centre frequently faces shortage of required medicines even for basic ailments.  

“One of my cows has a leg fracture and is unable to move for the past many days. The veterinary staff from Sanguem has been visiting his shed only to provide first aid to the cow but no treatment is provided for the leg injuries,” said Naik.  

Naik demanded that the veterinary centres at places like Sanguem, where dairy farming is undertaken on a large scale, should be provided with X-ray machines and technicians so that desired treatment could be provided in getting the fractures healed at the earliest.  

Another youth, Anil Kakodkar, who had over 12 cattle, stopped dairy farming a month back after he suffered huge losses.  

Kakodkar, who ventured into dairy business few years ago, informed that the government would earlier to provide cattle feed at a subsidised rate at the Goa Dairy.  

However since last many few months, Goa Dairy has stopped producing cattle feed and this has forced farmers to procure the feed from private parties at more than double the rate, making dairy farmers suffer. Many have ultimately close down their business.  

Locals also informed that the daily milk production in Sanguem has decreased manifold in the recent times on account of these issues plaguing the dairy farmers in the taluka.