With numerous buyers and hundreds of sacrificial animals, cattle markets in Rajshahi city and its adjacent areas have started getting vibrant ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha.
Large numbers of sacrificial animals are being brought for sale at different cattle markets like City, Naohata, Baneswar, Keshor, Kanthakhali, Rajabari, Kakonhat, Mohisalbari and Machmoil haats.
This time, there is an abundant supply of locally reared cattle heads in the City haat, the largest cattle market in the northern region, said Atikur Rahman Kalu, leaseholder of the haat.
He said beef fattening activities have been intensified everywhere in the region as the villagers attain lucrative profit from the business. This house to house beef fattening has started contributing a lot towards improving living and livelihood condition of the grassroots population through enriching animal resources.
Atikur Rahman said as the pandemic situation caused by the coronavirus has hit every sector, so many vendors are not getting good prices this time.
He said a small bull is now available at Tk 30,000 to Tk 40,000 while a medium-size one is available at Tk 40,000 to Tk 65,000 while a large bull is being sold at Tk 80,000 to Tk 1,00,000.
Some farmers claimed that although thousands of cows and buffaloes were come at Rajshahi City Market, but the sell did not freeze due to lack of buyers. They are spending their days in fear of huge losses as buyers do not go to market fearing coronavirus transmission. They are trying to sell cattle via online and other means but not getting much response.
According to Livestock Department, there are 65,000 small and large farms in Rajshahi. They have a stock of more than two lakh sacrificial animals for sale.
Shaheen Alam, a seasonal cattle farmer in Paba, said he has 15 large cows.
“Traders used to buy cows of this size at Rajshahi City Hat every year and ship them to Dhaka and Chittagong. Large cows are not sold locally. But this time, because of coronavirus there are no buyers or traders interested in buying these big cows.”
He said, “The situation is that these cows may have to be sold at half price.”
Rajshahi District Livestock Officer Antim Kumar Sarkar said in Rajshahi district needs about two lakh cattle for sacrifice. This time has a stock of about three and a half lakh sacrificial animals.
“Every year during Eid season, more than 1.5 lakh sacrificial animals are shipped from Rajshahi to Dhaka, Chittagong and Noakhali. But this time due to Coronavirus, the number of outside traders is less in Rajshahi markets. The farmers are very worried about selling cows. So we suggest that they try to sell big cows or farm cows via online,” he added.
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