No cattle crisis in Barisal

There is no crisis of cattle in the markets of Barisal. An official in the Barisal livestock department has clarified, “We have over 3 lakh animals in about 36,000 farms in Barisal.”

Over 35,250 farmers are visiting the cattle markets daily with their animals. They said Barisal region needs at most 60,000–65,000 animals during Eid-ul-Azha, but they have five times as many animals in reserve.

With only three days to go until Eid-ul-Azha, business gained momentum at the cattle markets in Barisal only from Monday afternoon.  The prices of animals have gone up by 15–20 per cent this year. Extortion and a high cost of transportation and fodder have been blamed for this price hike.

The Barisal City Corporation (BCC) has approved 24 cattle markets. These include three permanent ones at Rupatali, Baghia, and Port Road, and five makeshift ones at Kalijira, Kawnia, C and B, Nabogram, and Kashipur areas. However, at least 20 more illegal cattle markets are functioning in the different areas of the city, said BCC market-inspector Nurul Islam.

Dr Shek Azizur Rahman, the divisional livestock officer of Barisal, allayed fears of a crisis while visiting eight of the cattle markets. “We have reserved over 3 lakh sacrificial animals, including cattle, goats, sheep, and buffaloes, in Barisal region,” he said. He added that prices of cattle might fall just before Eid-ul-Azah when supply will be at its peak.

Salauddin Mia, a cattle farmer of the city’s Nabagram area, said he hopes to make a profit of at least Tk.6 lakh from the 24 fully grown cattle heads he has this year. Five of these have already been sold. Demand for the local cattle is high, he said. Almost all the farmers around Barisal city are preparing to come to the market two days before Eid, he added.

When this reporter visited the cattle markets of the city, he found the trade slow even on Monday afternoon. According to the reports received from the major cattle markets of the region—Baghiya, Kawnia, Rupatoli, Boalia, and Mohanganj—both the cattle traders and buyers are unhappy.

According to market sources, exceptionally large bulls were selling for Tk. 360,000 at the Rupatoli cattle market on Monday. Large bulls were being sold for Tk. 140,000–160,000. A mid-sized one was selling for Tk. 80,000–85,000 while a small one was selling for Tk. 55,000–60,000.

In the Hatkhola cattle market, a big goat was selling for Tk. 25,000, a mid-sized one for Tk. 18,000, and a small one for Tk. 12,000. Traders said that the demand for cows was the highest this year. The price ranged from Tk. 40,000-48,000.

 

No cattle crisis in Barisal

There is no crisis of cattle in the markets of Barisal. An official in the Barisal livestock department has clarified, We have over 3 lakh animals in about 36,000 farms in Barisal. Over 35,250 farmers are visiting the cattle markets daily with their animals. They said Barisal region needs at most 60,00065,000 animals during Eid-ul-Azha, but they have five times as many animals in reserve. With only three days to go until Eid-ul-Azha, business gained momentum at the cattle markets in Barisal only from Monday afternoon. The prices of animals have gone up by 1520 per cent this year. Extortion and a high cost of transportation and fodder have been blamed for this price hike. The Barisal City Corporation (BCC) has approved 24 cattle markets. These include three permanent ones at Rupatali, Baghia, and Port Road, and five makeshift ones at Kalijira, Kawnia, C and B, Nabogram, and Kashipur areas. However, at least 20 more illegal cattle markets are functioning in the different areas of the city, said BCC market-inspector Nurul Islam. Dr Shek Azizur Rahman, the divisional livestock officer of Barisal, allayed fears of a crisis while visiting eight of the cattle markets. We have reserved over 3 lakh sacrificial animals, including cattle, goats, sheep, and buffaloes, in Barisal region, he said. He added that prices of cattle might fall just before Eid-ul-Azah when supply will be at its peak. Salauddin Mia, a cattle farmer of the citys Nabagram area, said he hopes to make a profit of at least Tk.6 lakh from the 24 fully grown cattle heads he has this year. Five of these have already been sold. Demand for the local cattle is high, he said. Almost all the farmers around Barisal city are preparing to come to the market two days before Eid, he added. When this reporter visited the cattle markets of the city, he found the trade slow even on Monday afternoon. According to the reports received from the major cattle markets of the regionBaghiya, Kawnia, Rupatoli, Boalia, and Mohanganjboth the cattle traders and buyers are unhappy. According to market sources, exceptionally large bulls were selling for Tk. 360,000 at the Rupatoli cattle market on Monday. Large bulls were being sold for Tk. 140,000160,000. A mid-sized one was selling for Tk. 80,00085,000 while a small one was selling for Tk. 55,00060,000. In the Hatkhola cattle market, a big goat was selling for Tk. 25,000, a mid-sized one for Tk. 18,000, and a small one for Tk. 12,000. Traders said that the demand for cows was the highest this year. The price ranged from Tk. 40,000-48,000.