Krishna Kerkar, a resident of Aldona, has spent the last 45 years of his life farming and rearing cows — a tradition that runs deep in his family for over a century. “My father was in this line for more than 60 years, and I have continued it,” he says with quiet pride.

In earlier days, their family owned many bulls, but that number has dwindled over the years. The biggest challenge, Krishna says, is the rising cost of fodder. “It has become difficult to afford, with prices rising from Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,800. For people like us, it’s beyond reach.”

After completing his SSC, Krishna joined ITI in Karaswada, Mapusa, in hopes of finding a better job and building a more secure career. He worked elsewhere for three years and even got called for a government job interview, but nothing worked out.

“I tried political influence from every possible person, but no one helped me,” he recalls. Disheartened, he eventually gave up on that path and turned fully to fieldwork to support his family. “I’ve been doing it since childhood, and now my entire family supports me — my wife and children work alongside me in the field.”

Though he manages to run his household, Krishna admits that saving money is impossible. His day starts at 6 am — he collects cow dung with his........

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