Nallamala forest helps dairy ryots survive

Giddalur: The Nallamala forest in the western area of Prakasam district has become a rich resource for the fodder to the starving animals in and around Giddalur and Markapuram. The dairy farmers go hundreds of kilometers daily in search of grass for the animals and make a living on the income on the milk.

Due to the continuous drought in the area for the past few years, the animals are starving due to the unavailability of grass and fodder. Though the government claims to supply the fodder, it is insufficient. As the animal farming is the livelihood for many families in the area, the people are exploring the region and travelling more than 100 km for grass.

The farmers found that the Nallamala forest is the best place for search of grass for the animals, and they are using the train between Guntur and Kacheguda for transportation of the grass to longer distance.

A large number of farmers from villages Gangupalle, Meerjapet, Bodicherla, Nadipalle, Malinthapadu, Mittameenapalle, Kanderupalle, Tummalacheruvu, Nadarsab Palle,Obayipalle and Narsimakkapalle in Markapuram and Tarlupadu mandals board the Guntur to Kacheguda Passenger at 8:30 am daily and reaches Diguvametta Railway Station at 10 am. 

They then trek the hills and forest for 10 to 15 km to make bales of grass and reaches Diguvametta again by 4.30 pm. They take rest by the time the Kacheguda to Guntur train reaches there and board it around 5 pm and go home at 7 pm. The farmers from Giddalur and surrounding areas use vehicles like bullock carts, mopeds to go into the forest and return home with grass.

Pathan Khan, a dairy farmer, said due to the increasing scarcity of fodder, they are spending almost a day in the forest in search of grass. He said that about 50 to 70 farmers come to the forest from Markapuram and Tarlupadu mandals, along with him to Diguvametta, and go up to 15 to 20 km into the forest for grass. He said that they are doing all this to save the animals from sending them to slaughter houses and earn money by selling milk.