SIRAJGANJ, Aug 14: The local farmers are busy in fattening cows ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. They are rearing cows for making profit, but they feared that the Indian cows which are coming both legally and illegally will occupy the market. Besides, the transport cost will increase due to extortion in the trucks carrying cows.
The farmers said the number of cow rearing has been reduced in the district as the Indian cows occupied the cattle market in previous years, and the price of cow fodder increased.
They also said if the influx of Indian cows continues, they will incur losses.
According to District Livestock Department, 2,48,365 cows were reared in the district last year while 2,28,508 cows are ready this year. The statistic shows that the number of cows has decreased this year.
They also said the farmers buy small cows and rear those for six months to one year for sale during Eid-ul-Azha. Besides, more than 50,000 cattle traders in the district buy cows from local haats and prepare those to sell in Cumilla, Sylhet, Chittagong and Dhaka.
The farmers of the district demanded that the import of Indian cows should be stopped.
Abdul Matin of Talgachi Village of Shahzadpur Upazila said, "I reared 10 local and Nepali cows at the cost of Tk 8 lakh. I hope that I will be able to sell each cow at Tk one to 1.5 lakh, but if the Indian cows occupy the market, then I will have to incur losses."
Ansar Ali of the same upazila said, "I brought back five cows from Dhaka as I did not get desired price. This year I prepared five more cows for selling. I hope that I will earn profit of Tk 3 lakh if Indian cows do not enter the market."
Cattle trader Mohammad Ansar Ali said he supplies cows to Dhaka, Cumilla, Sylhet and Chittagong every year. This year, he bought 50 cows and has already sent 15 of them to Dhaka.
He also said the farmers and traders have to incur loss as the price of Indian cows is a bit low. In this way, he had to incur loss of Tk 10 lakh in last four years.
The farmers and traders will be benefited if the Indian cows do not enter local market, he added.
District Livestock Officer Dr. Akhteruzzaman Bhuiyan said the famers are fattening cows on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha every year with their suggestion.
He also said the cow rearing has decreased about 20,000 this year due to the price hike of fodder. About 68,000 cows of the district will be sent to the different districts of the country this year.
Superintendent of Police Tutul Chakrabarty said, "There is no extortion in my district due to strict control. Police will take initiatives so that the farmers and traders can sell their cattle smoothly."
