UP Farmers Distressed, How to Save Their Crops from Cattle Menace?

Cattle have been denied shelter even by gaushalas.

Cattle meandering on the road.

(Photo: The Quint)

Farmers of Ghazipur village in UP are facing a new problem and their lives have become more difficult than ever. Running across their fields day and night, with a stick in their hand, these farmers are having a difficult time.

The Quint’s team reached out to the farmers to know more about the matter. On interacting with one of the farmers, we were told an entire village faced a similar plight.

The farmers of many villages have been in distress because of the stray animals that are ruining their crops. However, what is important to note is that these animals don’t belong to any of the villages, but have been left there instead.

Farmers allege that many people move stray animals to other neighbouring villages at night. These cattle, in their herds, destroy the crops once they enter the field.

But why are people dumping their cattle into neighbouring areas?

After UP government’s ban on cattle slaughter, old cows, bulls and calves have outnumbered the number of people in the villages. These cattle – no longer of use to their owners – have been abandoned since the cattle trade ban has prohibited them from even selling these unwanted creatures. Consequently, to save their own crops and to be relieved of the burden, farmers are abandoning them at neighbouring villages.

Farmers complain of not being able to earn anything. Earlier, they could sell these cows to the traders.

Inda, a local resident, told The Quint that the issue has left villagers worried. According to her, Thakurs and Brahmins dominate their village and leave their cattle unmonitored in someone else’s fields, which spurred tension among villagers.

As the cattle are in large numbers, there is no one to look after them, and they have been denied shelter even by gaushalas. One of the farmers said that the cattle are dying and decaying. Even when they are sick, there is no one to take care of them.

Is the ban on sale of cattle for slaughter a menace?

Well, UP farmers would not have faced such a grim situation if the government had evaluated the options before rolling out the ban.

Video Producer: Hera Khan
Video Editor: Vivek Gupta