MAKAWANPUR: The collection of milk from dairy farmers has been adversely affected in the Hetauda Dairy Distribution Project due to a decline in milk production, caused by the prolonged dry weather in the Terai areas.

The project had been collecting approximately 22,000 to 23,000 litres of milk daily until a few months ago, but now it stands at just 6,000 litres a day, said Rajiv Khanal, chief of the Project. The project used to sell around 4,000 litres of milk daily to local consumers in Birgunj, Hetauda, and Bharatpur, while 12,000 litres were sent to Biratnagar for production of powdered milk.

The project sources milk from about 200 dairy producers' cooperatives in Sarlahi, Bara, Rautahat, and Parsa districts in Madhesh Province and Makawanpur in Bagmati Province. However, due to the decline in milk collection, the facility has not been able to sell its product at the same volume as in the past, Khanal added.

With the onset of the monsoon and rainfall in the Terai, the availability of fodder is expected to increase, which would contribute to higher milk production from cattle and similar collection levels at the dairies. -- RSS