Cattle farmers in the Rangpur division fear huge losses due to growing uncertainties over the sale of the sacrificial animals ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha for rising prices of feed, lower number of customers and high transport costs.
Local sources said huge numbers of sacrificial animals have started arriving in different markets of the region. Traders from Dhaka, Chattogram and other parts of the country have begun to visit the markets.
Many of the farmers and villagers said that the traders and buyers are not fixing the reasonable price of the animals due to increased transportation costs.
The sources said that the farmers in the division have preserved a record number of sacrificial animals this year. Of them around 8,34,000 could be transported to other districts after catering for the local demands.
According to the divisional livestock department, there are around 21, 52,339 sacrificial animals this year in the possession of some 1, 75, 362 registered farmers in eight districts of the division while the demand is around 13, 18, 117. Some 8, 34,202 animals will be surplus which can be transported elsewhere in the country for sale.
Farmers said that cattle rearing has become very costly and challenging as the feed price has doubled in the local markets. Many of them took loans from banks and different lending agencies on high interest for cattle farming who were confused to get back their investment.
When this correspondent visited Jaigirhat village under Mithapukur Upazila of Rangpur district found that there are around two hundred cow-fattening farms. About 25-100 numbers of bulls in each of the farms have been kept ready for sale before Eid-ul Azha.
Abdul Mazid, a farmer in the village said, he has fattened 40 local bulls on his farm. The average price of the animal is around Tk 1.50 lakh. He had to spend a huge amount of money to fatten the cows due to the high feed price. He will have to incur a loss if he fails to sell the animals above Tk 1.5 lakh,
Sufia Begum, a housewife, who used to rear up domestic cattle at Vhuraraghat village of Sadar Upazila, has made similar observations.
The cost of cattle rearing has become much higher nowadays. At least Tk 250- 300 is required to feed a cow every day. She has spent much on domestic cattle farming. She has preserved five bulls and three cows. She hopes to sell each at Tk 1.5 lakh on average but she fears getting back her investment as the buyers are not bidding the proper price of the animals.
Advocate Sujit Kumar Chakrabarti, a cattle farmer at Kathalbari village under Kurigram Sadar said, he has been doing cattle farming for the last thirty years. He used to produce milk for everyday sale at his farm and fatten local and hybrid bulls to make business ahead of the Eid-ul Azha. The demand for sacrificial animals priced between Tk 50,000-100,000 is high in his area. But he has to invest much to rear up the cattle of his farm.
Every year, a number of traders and businessmen from different parts of the country used to visit the local markets and village houses during the Eid season to buy cattle. But the number is very thin this year. Thus, he fears incurring losses in his cattle business, he added.
There are around 100 dairy farms in Mahigonj area of Rangpur city. Many of the farm owners’ rear bulls besides the dairy. The traders and businessmen from Dhaka and Chattogram have started to visit the farms. But they are not bidding the proper price of the cattle, said Babul Miah, Babul Miah, a dairy farm owner of the area.
He has fattened three bulls beside the dairy for selling them ahead of the Eid-ul Azha. A few buyers visited his farm to buy the animals and rated the animals much below his expectations. He became very frustrated.
Rezaul Karim, a cattle farmer of Panchagarh Sadar said small size sacrificial cattle have got huge demand in his area. He reared up some 20 cattle aiming to make business before Eid. He has to spend around Tk 250 every day for each of the cattle feeding.
Prices of cattle feed and medicine have increased so much and it has become a threat to the business. Indian cattle are found in the area during the season and are usually sold at lower prices. He is apprehensive of incurring losses in the business if he does not sell the animal above Tk 1 lakh.
Rangpur District Livestock officer, Dr Enamul Haque said, many of the young educated entrepreneurs developed dairy farms in the district. There are around 25,000 cattle farms including dairy in the district. Of them, many of the farmers and village housewives rear cattle, 2-3 bulls in their houses. Targeting the Eid-ul Azha the farm owners and the domestic farmers in the district have preserved a record number of sacrificial animals aiming to get profit.
Rangpur District and Divisional Dairy Farmers Association (RDDFA), President, Latifur Rhaman said a good number of dairy farms have been shut down in the districts of the division following the high prices of cattle feed and the Covid-19 crisis in the year 2020-2021. The farmers who are still in the business have to face severe challenges for their existence.
The farmers will be benefited if the cattle are sold based on their weight. He demanded to sell the cattle weighing in the digital machine at local markets per kg at Tk 700-750. Both farmers and buyers will get profit in the process. Moreover, Indian cattle are found in different markets of the bordering districts which become a threat to the trading.
The char people in river basin areas of the districts used to rear up a good number of cattle which is a source of income for them. Soaring prices of fodder and feed have hit them hard.
Director Rangpur Divisional Livestock Department, Dr Nazrul Islam Jhantu said, the farmers and dairy farmer owners have preserved a record number of sacrificial animals this year in the region. Around 8. 34 lakh sacrificial animals would be surplus after meeting the local demand in Eid. A good number of sacrificial animals are usually transported elsewhere in the country every season from the districts under the division.
