For them milking cows is wrong

Rajamahendravaram: The tribals of Rampachodavaram in East Godavari district have a unique habit. They have large number of cattle but they do not milk them as they say that it was against their tradition.

The consumption of milk and milk products like curd is very negligible among tribals. Not many feed their kids with milk. The government officials are trying their best to educate tribals to milk their cattle, but in vain.

Pallala Venkata Ramana Reddy, village elder of Yarlagadda village in Y Ramavaram mandal, said that they do not milk milch cows and leave the whole milk for their calves. He maintained that the tribal people would not consume curd, milk or ghee and only feed infants with milk for some time

A survey conducted by ICRISAT team in 2015 in Ganagavaram mandal of agency area of East Godavari district, found out that the cow milk productivity is very low, about 0-2 litres a day, as compared with other mandals (2-3 litre/day).

According to visiting scientist, ICRISAT, Rajesh Nune, local buffaloes are the major milk producers and very few cross-bred buffaloes were observed in these mandals. The average milk productivity ranges from 2-4 litre/day per buffalo.

The tribals are also unhappy that they get little money for the milk they sell. The highest they get is about Rs 28 per litre. While the income from milk is low, the cost of fodder is high, they say.

Animal Husbandry Joint Director B Venkateswara Rao said the demand for milk is very low in the agency area as the consumption is minimal since the tribal have a wrong notion with regard to milking of cattle.

He said that the government has inked an MoU with J K Trust to set up 67 livestock development centres in East Godavari agency areas to provide breeding services, breed development and create awareness among the tribals.