Cattle farming brings fortune to Hafizul Islam

NAWABGANJ, DINAJPUR, Oct 20: Whenever customers call for a wedding, reception or other social event, Hafizul Islam takes a fattened cow from his farm to their homes, slaughters it and supplies them with as much meat as they need. He charges less than the market price.

The availability of fresh meat from a known source at an affordable price has quickly increased demand for meat from his farm.

Hafizul, son of Fazlul Haque of Alokdhuti Village in Nawabganj Upazila, has built a unique livestock and meat-supply business. Inspired by his success, several unemployed youths in the village have also started cattle and goat farms.

Hafizul said he once bought goats from villages and sold them at local markets. But the small income was barely enough to support his family.

Seeking an additional source of income, he bought a cow in 2018 and started rearing it at home. After about four months, he sold it at a good price. 

Encouraged by the profit, he gradually expanded his farm, buying cattle from different markets and villages and fattening them at his homestead.

He now fattens around 30-35 cattle heads in each cycle and earns lakhs of taka by selling them after about four months.

More recently, he began taking cattle to customers’ homes, slaughtering them and supplying the meat. The arrangement benefits both customers and Hafizul.

He now earns around Tk 7-8 lakh a year from cattle rearing and meat supply. He has bought another piece of land to expand the business and plans to establish a larger cattle and goat farm there.

Hafizul advises unemployed youths to start livestock farming on a small scale rather than remain idle, saying the risk of loss is relatively low.

Bipul Kumar Chakraborty, Upazila Livestock Officer, described Hafizul as a successful and exemplary farmer.

“His initiative to slaughter healthy cattle at customers’ homes and supply the meat directly is innovative and hygienic,” he said.

The livestock office regularly visits Hafizul’s farm and provides technical advice on vaccination, de-worming and nutrition, he added.

“Hafizul’s success has encouraged many unemployed youths in the area to take up farming. We will provide necessary support to anyone interested in starting such an initiative,” Chakraborty said.

From trading goats to supplying freshly slaughtered beef at customers’ homes, Hafizul’s unusual venture has become an inspiring story for unemployed youths in the upazila.