RANGPUR, Aug 10: With only one day left for holy Eid-ul-Azha, the sale of sacrificial animals is gaining momentum at different cattle markets under Rangpur division.
According to sources, the cattle markets in the region are buzz with buyers and sellers of sacrificial animals.
Officials at divisional Livestock Department said around 13,80,000 sacrificial animals are ready in the division for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. These include 9,00000 cows and buffaloes and 4,80,000 goats and sheep in around 14,000 small and large farms and different households.
Besides meeting local demands, a huge quantity of sacrificial animals has been supplied to different areas of the country, sources further said.
Though the cattle markets of the region have been flooded with a large number of sacrificial animals like buffalo, cow, goat, sheep, lower price of animals specially cows and buffalo is quite disappointing to the cattle rearers and traders, sources alleged.
Talking to this correspondent Jonab Ali, a cattle trader at Nishbetganj cattle market in Rangpur Sadar said on Friday that this year the supply of cattle is surplus in comparison with the number of buyers, as a result the prices of cattle are lower.
Almost 70 per cent of the cattle available in the markets are artificially fattened by the household farmers, sources alleged.
While visiting different cattle markets in the region during last few days this FE correspondent found every nook and corner of the hats started filling up with arrival of sacrificial animals while the enthusiastic buyers were rushing to the hat.
"I expected to sell my bullock at minimum 1,00,000 but the customer were reluctant to give me more than 70,000. Finding no other way I had to sell the bullock at Tk 75,000 incurring a loss of Tk 25,000", said a cattle rearer, Asadul Mia of Palichara area in Rangpur sadar upaliza at Nishbetganj hat yesterday (Friday) evening while taking to the FE.
However, the happy buyers are purchasing animals with much satisfaction as the prices of sacrificial animals are quite reasonable this year.
Our Correspondent from Jhenidah adds: The cattle markets in the district are filled with adequate number of cows and goats to be sold. However, the cow farmers are disappointed as the prices have recently gone down.
Some days ago, the prices of sacrificial cows were higher. Many people have already bought cows apprehending an increase in prices.
The hopes of the cow farmers and other cow rearers who opted to sell their animals at the haats just before the Eid are now shattered. The number of customers in proportion to the cows available in the haats is less. So, cows are sold at lower prices here in the district now.
Sacrificial animals are being sold at a total of 27 cattle haats here. Adequate number of cattle is being brought at the markets. Besides local customers, traders from other districts including Dhaka are thronging the cattle haats here to purchase cows and goats. After buying they are carrying the animals, loading trucks.
Targeting Eid-ul-Azha, a good number of farmers has bred cows. The animals look healthy, attractive and so are drawing the attention of the customers. However, the prices of the cows are lower than their expectation.
Some cow rearers at Shadhuhati Borai Haat told this correspondent on Saturday that they are frustrated over the present prices.
Our Sylhet Correspondent writes: Local influential groups, backed by political leaders have set up illegal cattle markets in different places of the city and suburbs.
About 20 temporary cattle markets have already been set up on different roadside places by the big shots, locals alleged.
Meanwhile, there has been a good supply of the cattle heads in the markets and the price seemed to be reasonable as yet with good number of local animals available to meet the demand.
Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury said only three markets at Tilagar and Mendibag (Koyedir math) in addition to the permanent one at Kazirbazar are permitted in the city while the rests are illegal. "We wouldn't allow them in the city areas", he added.
An official at Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) said drives against the illegal markets would be launched.
Ruling party-backed men on Friday blocked the Sylhet-Tamabil Highway for an hour causing huge traffic as they were denied setting a cattle market in the Khadimnagar area on the highway.
Meanwhile clashes between the rival groups took place over taking grip of the market sites like Tilagarh, Shahi Eidgah, Lakkatoora, etc.
Besides, they are stopping the cattle laden trucks to forcibly taking the animals inside their illegal markets.
A number of cattle traders coming from other districts alleged today they had to pay extra money on at least five points on way to Sylhet.
Our Roving Correspondent says: Sacrificial animal sale is gaining momentum across the districts under Rajshahi division as the Eid-ul-Azha is knocking at the door.
More than 500 markets have been set up Sirajganj, Natore, Pabna, Joypurhat, Chapainawabganj and Bogura districts.
Both the district administrations and law enforcement agencies have taken tight security in this connection.
In Sirajganj, according to a recent statistics prepared by the Livestock Department, over 16,000 farms owners have reared over 0.3 million cattle head targeting this Eid market.
District livestock officer Dr Md Akhtaruzzan Bhuiyan said the authority concerned is working to keep the market broker free. Getting fair price the growers are also seen happy across the district, he added.
In Natore, during a recent visit to Boraigram upazila this correspondent found both the temporary and permanent haats have been set up.
According to the Animal Resources Department of the district, the number of demand for sacrificial animals of the district was around 1, 70,000 last year. The farmers have reared over 3, 96,000 against the demand of 1, 72,000 this year in the district.
It has been alleged that extra money has been taken from the customers of sacrificial animals in different haats of Baraigram upazila of Natore. A total Tk 1,000 for cows and Tk 400 for goat and sheep are being taken in this hut.
According to upazila administration sources, there is a provision to take Tk 250 to Tk 500 and Tk 100 to Tk 150 from seller.
On a visit this correspondent came to know that the buyer is paying Tk 700 and the seller is Tk 300 for cows, buffalo, bulls or oxen though the buyer is supposed to pay Tk 300 and the seller T Tk 100 for all the goat and sheep.
In Pabna, cattle traders in the district said earlier a huge number of cattle head used to enter the country from India but now they are having sufficient local bred and locally reared cattle heads. As a result, the demand for Indian cattle head has decreased.
A cattle trader Abdul Alim at Santhia upazila, said with the approaching of the Eid, the activities of cattle traders have also been increased. A huge number of locally bred cattle heads were seen in the region, he added.
Besides, more than 0.1 million of buffalo has supplied to Chattogram, Sylhet and Dhaka from the district.
In Joypurhat, the district livestock office sources said farmers have reared about 3, 25,000 cattle head in the district for this Eid.
The growers are getting fair price as the cattle have been naturally fattened with proper vaccines facility to these cattle to prevent the disease. Apart from this, the Napier grass seed and grass cultivators have been trained to feed the goats.
In Chapainawabganj, district livestock officer Dr Anonda Kumar Adhikary said the growers of the district have reared over 1, 67,000 sacrificial animals against 1, 60,000 of demand. Veterinary surgeon are monitoring at the different haats to trash the sick animal round the clock, he added.
In Bogura, a small cow is being sold at Tk 50,000 to Tk 70,000 in the local haats in the district, while a middle one at Tk 1,00,000 to Tk 1,50,000 and a large one at Tk 2,00,000 to Tk 5,00,000.
The district has reared over 5, 16,000 sacrificial animal against 3,10,000 of demand.
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