Starting from scratch, youth scripts success story in dairy farming

Taorem Bishwajit
IMPHAL, Feb 7 : Success in life comes when one uses time wisely and works dili-gently, said Langpoklakpam Somananda, a dairy farmer from Khundrakpam Awang Leikai in Imphal East.
Somananda (32) also expressed his belief that the State's progress depends on its youth.
Instead of solely waiting for Government job opportunities, he encouraged young people to explore and engage in works that align with their skills and interests.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, Somananda shared that he was involved in various ventures, including run- ning a Xerox shop and selling goods at different locations using a Maruti van before taking up dairy farming.
He mentioned that he started dairy farming in 2013-14 while still in college, after purchasing a single cow.
Despite his earlier failures in other ventures, he said they didn’t discourage him; instead, they motivated him to explore new opportunities, eventually leading him to dairy farming.
Pointing out the high demand for milk in Manipur, the progressive farmer stated that he began dairy farming with a clear vision to meet that need.
However, he acknowledged that expanding his venture took time, as he did not come from a wealthy family.
Through hard work and perseverance, the young farmer now owns six cows and two calves, producing over 100 litres of milk daily.
He markets the milk by partnering with a dealer.
Somananda mentioned that he earns around Rs 50,000 per month after deducting all expenses, including feed costs.
He explained that extra money is spent on feed, as it is sourced from other States.
However, the young farmer added that he is working to reduce feed costs by planting oats after harvesting rice.
Somananda said that he takes the fodder seeds from Central Agricultural University (CAU).
He highlighted that one of the major challenges farmers in Manipur face is the unavailability of crop seeds in time, expressing hope that the Government will address this issue.
Somanand further mentioned that he has installed a rice mill at his residence, and the rice bran left after milling is used as cattle feed.
He also pointed out that dairy farmers in Manipur would benefit greatly if fodder are readily available in the State.
Relying on other States for fodder is unpredictable, he explained, as highway closures can disrupt supply, and the cost of transportation is high.
Somanand expressed a desire for the Veterinary Department to focus on inseminating high milk-producing cow breeds to promote dairy farming.
He also called on the Government to provide subsidies for purchasing cows for agricultural purposes.
Scientific knowledge has become an essential part of farming, the young farmer said, urging the relevant institutions to organise training programmes for farmers regularly.
Somananda mentioned that he plans to produce vermicompost fertilizers using cattle manure.
Additionally, he said that he has been training some individuals in dairy farming, and several of them have already started their own ventures.
Success and failure are part of life, but people should not be deterred by failure, he said.
According to a report published by the Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, Manipur's milk production decreased from 81.77 tonnes in 2013-14 to 71.87 tonnes in 2022-23, showing a significant decline.
Meanwhile, the number of exotic or crossbred cows dropped from around 44,000 in 2018-19 to approximately 32,000 in 2022-23.
On the other hand, the indigenous cow breed saw an increase, rising from about 49,000 in 2018-19 to around 54,000 in 2022-23.
There is also a stark disparity between the milk requirement and production in Manipur.
While the State produced 71.87 tonnes of milk in 2022-23, the actual milk requirement for Manipur is 389.74 tonnes. To bridge this gap, greater emphasis on dairy farming is essential.
The story is written under the Award in Scientific Journalism Programme of CAU, Imphal.
For further details, please contact Dr Indira Thounaojam, Information & Publicity Officer, CAU Imphal, at [email protected].