Crackdown on illegal abattoirs pushes cattle farmers to the edge
Cattle traders are unable to carry out their business as markets are shut
DHANAURA (BULANDSHAHR): Every Wednesday, until two weeks ago, farmers from Dhanaura, adjoining villages and beyond would sell at least 500 spent (no longer productive) buffaloes to meat traders at this licenced weekly market in UP’s Bulandshahr. Not anymore.
On March 29, the second Wednesday since the Yogi Adityanath-led state government launched its crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses, it was not business as usual at Dhanaura’s otherwise busy mandi spread over 1.5 acre off Yamuna Expressway.
Farmer Pappu Singh, from Jewar near Noida, did not find any customers for his three buffaloes despite waiting for four hours. He said before the crackdown, he would find it difficult to get space to even stand.
“My buffaloes stopped giving milk earlier this month. It is for the first time in last 10 years when I have not been able to sell one in two weeks. I have to buy seeds for the next season and I have no money left,” said Singh.
In the aftermath of the crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses, UP’s 20 weekly cattle markets have seen a drastic fall in business. The state supports about 15% of India’s total livestock — of this, 21% are buffaloes.
Generally, farmers of the region sell their unproductive buffaloes and buy new ones before monsoon. But many are now waiting in fear of vigilantes.
Mangat Ram, a farmer from Gangrol village near Dhanaura market, said, “In the last few days, several groups of people who call themselves ‘Yogi ke log’ (Yogi’s men) stop our minitrucks saying no one can now do “kaatne ka kaam” (meat business). At times, police are also with them. This triggered fear among farmers and traders.”
Some farmers are even willing to sell their cattle at a lower price. “Today, I am ready to sell a buffalo that would fetch me ₹30,000 for ₹20,000. But there are no takers,” said Devendra, a farmer .
Apart from Dhanaura, Fatehpur, Gangrol, Nithari and Saleempur villages with majority Hindu population, farmers from Haryana and Rajasthan too used to frequent the market.
Jitendra Kumar, who operates the Dhanaura market, feared trade would be finished if the “harassment” continued.
The farmers sell their cattle directly or through middlemen, mostly Muslims.
Maan Singh Chauhan, the additional SP of Bulandshahr, said, “We will take action when we receive complaints.”
In the last few days, several groups of people who call themselves ‘Yogi ke log’ (Yogi’s men) stop our minitrucks saying no one can now do “kaatne ka kaam” (meat business). MANGAT RAM, A FARMER