Few customers seen in Rajshahi cattle markets

RAJSHAHI, Aug 23: Eid-ul-Azha is knocking the door, but the cattle markets are yet to gain momentum due to recent floods in different areas including the biggest cattle market in Rajshahi city.
Many areas in Rajshahi and adjacent areas have been affected in flood.  That's why people in the region cannot keep their cattle in their houses.
While visiting the local markets of sacrificial animals this correspondent found that there is adequate supply of cattle heads a few buyers were seen. Besides, a good number of Indian cows have been imported in this region along with the local cattle. As a result, the traders have been suffering depression due to low sales, concerned sources said.
According to the Directorate of Rajshahi Regional Department of Animal Husbandry, there are a total of 65 big and small cattle markets in Rajshahi region including Chapainawabganj, Natore and Naogaon districts. In these four districts, Rajshahi City Bypass Market is the largest cattle market.
There is a demand of 10 lakh sacrificial animals in Rajshahi region each year. On the contrary, 35,000 of medium cattle farms have been established producing goats, sheep and buffaloes. There is a stock of 12 lakh animals in this region. There is 150,000 more animals stock comparing the demand, sources added.
Farmer Afaz Uddin of Chak Debiram village of Nurulabad union of Manda upazila, brought a total of five cows for sale in the Chaueria market on Friday. He said that most of the houses of their villages have gone under flood water since last 10 days.
As a result, the farmers here have been facing trouble in keeping cattle in the house. For this reason, he brought all his five cows for selling in the market. Not only he but also thousands of farmers from the flood-hit areas of North Bengal have been started to sell cattle due to recent flood, he added.