Lumpy skin disease in cattle has plunged many farmers across the country into some sort of crisis, impacting their livelihoods. In Orong Gewog of Samdrup Jongkhar as well, the contagious viral infection not only threatened the health of cattle but has also posed a threat to the income of farmers. Rearing cattle and selling milk is one of the main sources of income for many villagers in Orong Gewog. Of the 35 cattle that died due to lumpy skin disease in Samdrup Jongkhar, 23 were reported from Orong Gewog alone.
Ugyen Wangchuk has lost his two milking cows to lumpy skin disease recently.
In a month Ugyen Wangchuk used to earn about Nu 10, 000 by selling milk which was his main source of income. But today, he is left without any cow.
“When the situation improves, I am thinking of buying another cow. I will have to do other work until then for income.”
More than 75 households in Orong depending on milk for income have been affected by the lumpy skin disease.
“With the help of livestock officials, we try to treat infected ones but still couldn’t save some cattle. In Orong Gewog, one of the main sources of income is from selling milk. We don’t do other work as much,” said Tashi Tobgay, a farmer.
“Following the infection, the production decreased. For instance, a cow that used to give 4 litres of milk before produces only a litre after getting infected by the virus. Now, the production is increasing slowly,” said Tashi Dorji, another farmer.
Orong Gewog’s Livestock Extension Officer says three milk groups in the gewog produce about 1,500 litres of milk every day. But the production fell to 900 litres following the disease outbreak.
The district livestock official says that prevention measures such as biosecurity and disinfection were carried out on time to stop the virus from spreading further.
The official also added that the situation is now improving in the district.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Phub Gyem
