More than 2 lakh cattle farmers across the country fear to incur losses after selling their nourished cattle in the market during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha due to higher price of cattle feeds and nourishment costs.
In this situation, the Eid may turn into a matter of sorrow for their families if they don get their money back by selling the animals they nourished at their farms or homes.
According to the Integrated Dairy Research Network (IDRN), the price of cattle feeds increased in Bangladesh by 54 percent in last one year while the global price hike is only 20.6 percent.
The relevant people in this sector claimed that a strong syndicate has been increasing the price of animal feeds indiscriminately to pocket additional profits. The syndicate is still active to hike the price of the products like wheat and rice bran, soya meal, de-oiled rice polish or bran, husked maize, lentil, oats, rye, flax seed, straw and broken rice again ahead of the Eid.
According to the allegation, the members of the animal feed syndicate have been stockpiling such products, which are usually used for the cattle feed, in their stock to hike the price again during the Eid. It results in artificial crisis of animal feed in the market.
Though there are many government authorities to look after the matters of maintaining quality, controlling prices and monitoring the overall issues in the sector, there is no one to look after the price of animal feeds in the country. Most of the famers, who are dependent on feed factories, have been suffering for higher price of animal feeds. At the same time, the poultry farmers have been recovering their price including their profits from the pocket of the general consumers, according to Voluntary Consumers Training and Awareness Society (VOCTA).
Akramuzzaman Arif, a poultry farmer from Kushtia, told this correspondent that they have been facing massive problems due to higher price of animal feeds including the soya meals. When a bags of 50 kgs soya meal was sold at Tk1,700 a year ago is now being sold at Tk 3,400 to Tk 3,500. Similarly, a bag of 50 wheat bran is now being sold at Tk 1,500, which was only Tk 800 a year before. A bag of 50 kg husked lentil is being sold at Tk 2,000, which was around Tk 500 to Tk 540 a year earlier.
He also stated that a bag of 50 kg husked maize is now being sold at Tk 2,000, which was around Tk 1,300 to Tk 1,500 in 2023. Besides, the rice bran and chickpeas are being sold at Tk 2,500 to Tk 2,700.
According to the farmers, the price of wheat husk per sack is Tk 1,800 to Tk 2,800. There is a significant difference in selling from one market to another. The price in one market does not match the price in another.
Broken rice is being sold at Tk 35 to Tk 40 now. Three months, it was Tk 30 to Tk 32 per kilogram while rice bran is Tk 20 per kg. Straw is being sold at Tk 5 higher than usual price.
According to the Voluntary Consumers Training and Awareness Society (VOCTA), in 2014, the price of beef per kilogram in Dhaka market was on average Tk 300 while in 2015, it increased to Tk 400.
According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), beef is now being sold in Dhaka market for Tk 750 to Tk 780 per kilogram. That is, compared to 2014, beef is now being sold at 150 percent higher in price per kilogram.
Stakeholders stated that at the beginning of the current year, the price of wheat husk per kilogram ranged from Tk 46 to Tk 47, husked chickpeas from Tk 52 to Tk 53, broken rice from Tk 29 to Tk 30, and grainy feed from Tk 49 to Tk 50.
However, currently, wheat husk is being sold for Tk 52 to Tk 55 per kilogram, chickpeas husk for Tk 62 to Tk 65, broken rice for Tk 38 to Tk 40, and grainy feed for Tk 55 to Tk 56.
They also mentioned that expenses for water and electricity have increased, leading to an increase in the cost of farming, resulting in higher beef prices in the market.
From then on, the price has been increasing annually, Executive Director Khalilur Rahman Sajal of VOCTA, said, adding that the price of animal feed is increasing day by day. Almost all products for animal feed are being imported duty-free. Despite this, the price of food is increasing. Those who needed to control the price are maintaining silence. They claim that they are working to increase production.
"If the farmers do not survive, how much will the production increase? Prices are being raised by the syndicate, just like other daily products. 10 years ago, beef was sold for Tk 300, but now it is almost Tk 750 to Tk 800. The consumer has to bear all the expenses," he stated.
When contacted, Fisheries and Livestock Minister M. Abdur Rahman said that Eid-ul-Azha is an important religious festival for the Muslim community. The ministry along with other government departments and organizations are working to celebrate it ensuring supplying of sacrificial animals at reasonable price.
About 1,29,80,367 eligible sacrificial animals are ready in the country. In contrast, there is a demand for 1,07,02,394 animals. As a result, there is no matter of doubt, crisis or concern about the sacrificial animals. Necessary instructions have been given to the bordering districts to prevent the illegal entry of sacrificial animals.
Bangladesh Dairy Farmers Association (BDFA) President Md. Imran Hossain said that nearly 80 percent of the cost is incurred in feed for livestock production. The price of animal feed has increased significantly compared to last year. As a result, there is concern about the normal price of livestock during upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
There is an excess supply of livestock to farmers in the country. Therefore, even if prices do not increase, farmers can suffer losses, he said, adding that there is a difference in the cost of raising cattle in rural and urban areas. In rural areas, that is, in household settings, the cost of feeding cattle is less. In commercial areas, the cost for farmers is higher than the household raising of cattle.
He further said that there is no natural calculation for meat production per kilogram in our country. Some confusion arises in some cases regarding information. In our country, various types of livestock are raised, resulting in differences in their physical structure and diversity.
In order to protect the interests of farmers, he called for strict monitoring of cattle entering through illegal means and demanded a ban on the extortion on transportation of sacrificial animals on the road.
Imran informed the concerned parties that local businessmen have started buying sacrificial animals.
According to the farmers, many have also started buying cattle from the farms. However, due to the high cost of animal feed, price of cattle has increased significantly this time. The demand for small and medium-sized cattle is higher this time, even before the start of the sacrificial animal market.
Farmers blame the ongoing inflation responsible for the current high price.
Many people are booking cows in advance for Qurbani, as it is believed that buying animals early may result in a slightly lower price.
Some buyers prefer not to go to the market to buy cows and are purchasing sacrificial animals in advance while some of the buyers are also intending to purchase cattle online.
Buyers generally determine the price of live animals based on live weight or weight. Last year, the price of animals like cows under the live weight method had risen to Tk 480 per kg. This year, it is being sold for Tk 500 per kg. The price is determined based on the total weight of the cow.
Abul Hossain, a cattle farmer and trader from Kushtia, informed that this time he has raised 25 cows for sale during the Qurbani period. Same time, he has also bought 30 more cows from his relatives.
"I have already sold two cows from the farm for Tk 3 lakh. Excluding all expenses, the profit range remains at only Tk 5,00 to Tk 7,000 per cow. In addition, I will bring about 100 cows to Dhaka, all within Tk 2 lakh. Last year, I had to return 7 cows. However, due to the increase in food prices, the price will be slightly higher. Although the comparative price will not increase," the farmer mentioned.
