Cattle markets across the country, especially those in the north, are getting a good supply of sacrificial animals ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. However, sales at these markets are yet to gear up due to shortage of customers. A large number of cattle from India have already made it to the markets in northern districts while the cattle rearing farms in the region are also supplying a good number of sacrificial animals.

In addition, floods across the northern region have caused an acute shortage of fodder, causing farmers and small traders to bring cattle to the markets for a quick sale before Eid. Despite a high supply of cattle, only a few customers were visiting the markets as Eid sale is yet to pick up.

Our Bogra correspondent reports:  The price of cattle is relatively low in Bogra markets before Eid-ul-Azha compared to previous years. The prices of cattle have fallen due to a large supply of animals from India, local cattle farms and small farmers in the district.   Due to the fodder crisis caused by the flood,

the number of customers is very low despite the huge supply of cattle in markets. During a visit to Mahasthan Garh, the largest cattle market in the northern region, traders expressed their frustration as only few customers were visiting the market and the price offers made by them were way below the expectations of cattle traders.

Md. Abdus Sattar Mondal, a cattle farmer from Mahastan Garh under Shibganj upazila of the district came in the market on Wednesday to sell five bulls. The prices offered by customers for the bulls were so low that he was forced to go back. Abdur Rahaman, who lives in a flood-hit area, said he came to sell four cattle that he had reared. After spending a disappointing day, he had no option but to sell the four bulls for only Tk 80,000 as he could not afford a shelter for the animals at the market or feed for the animals.

Md. Jahidul Islam, leaseholder of Mahasthan Garh cattle market, said a huge number of sacrificial animals have arrived in the market but the number of buyers is still very low. He said the flooding and supply of Indian cattle were the reasons behind this large supply and low price.

Farmers in areas hit by river erosion and floods, including the char lands in Jamuna, Bengali, Karatoa river basins in five upazilas of Bogra district, are facing acute fodder shortage as the recent floods damaged all the grass fields in the shoal areas and adjacent villages. They are forced to sell off their cattle at a low price due to the lack of food and also in the absence of dry land to keep the cattle.

Fodder crisis has caused a hike in the prices of hay, oilcake and wheat bran, causing frustration among the char farmers who are engaged in cattle rearing. Abdul Aziz Sarker, a farmer at Rowadaha village in Chandanbaisha union parishad of Sariakndi upazila, said now 40kg of hay is being sold between Tk 450 to 500 in the local market, which was only Tk 300 to 350 a month ago.

“Every year during this flood and post flood periods, we face acute fodder shortage as the grasslands in and around the char villages are either damaged or washed away”, said Abul Hossain of Char Kamalpur village, located on a river island, in Sariakandi upazila.

“I am much frustrated as all my six cows have become weak due to shortage of fodder. I can’t collect sufficient green fodder, and cannot also afford to buy hay”, added the frustrated farmer.

 Abul’s wife Monowara Begum said she along with many other char women went to the main land everyday for collecting green grasses, but they never got enough. Every year during the rainy season it is not possible for cattle to graze in the fields in Jamuna and Bengali river basin villages as the lands go under water.

Our Rajshahi correspondent reports: Despite a satisfactory supply, sale of sacrificial animals in local hats and cattle-markets has not yet started in full swing with the holy Eid-ul-Azha only a few days away.

The cattle markets in the district are witnessing a huge supply of sacrificial animals like cow, buffalo, goat and sheep. But a low turnout of customers at the markets is disappointing the cattle traders.

Most of the cattle now being sold at various hats in Rajshahi are of local breed. Though cattle in large number have started to enter the country from India through bordering areas of Rajshahi, most of these are being shipped directly to markets in Dhaka or Chittagong on trucks, said sources.

Rahamat Ali, a cattle trader from Sultanganj of Rajshahi, said he used to ship sacrificial animals to Dhaka and Chittagong on trucks. He is now supplying cattle to locals markets. Despite a good supply of cattle in various hats and markets in Rajshahi, the prices have not come down considerably yet, he added.

Monir Hossain, another cattle trader at Naohata Hat, said local people have not yet started to buy sacrificial animals. They would start purchasing those just one or two days before the Eid, he added. Moreover, many people are waiting for their relatives to return from Dhaka and other places so that they can join during the purchase sacrificial animals, he said.

During visit to several cattle markets including City Hat, Kanthakhali Hat and Mohisalbari Hat in Rajshahi, this correspondent noticed the same scene. Traders are waiting at the hats with cattle heads but the number of customers is very low. Most of the local customers of sacrificial animals are just enquiring about the prices of sacrificial animals and are returning home without making any purchase.

Cattle traders, however, are hopeful that the sale of sacrificial animals will pick up within a day or two.

Meanwhile, food shortage could force farmers in flood-hit areas to sell their cattle at lower prices, paving the way for middlemen to maximise their profits taking advantage of the volatility in the supply chain. If the crisis continues, cattle prices might increase ahead of Eid-ul-Azha as the farmers are buying fodder at higher prices and most of the cattle are already in the hands of the middlemen, said a market insider.

It is learnt that thousands of farm animals are facing food crisis in flood-affected districts of Rajshahi and Naogaon since the first week of this month. The crisis unfolded due to flood waters submerging large swathes of grassy fields and a large amount of straw in those areas.  Flood-hit people have taken shelter on the flood control embankments with their cattle and most of the animals are starving as floodwater inundated the grassy fields. Due to the devastating damage to houses and other belongings, the price of fodder increased in the flood-hit areas, local sources said.   

Flood-hit people kept their domestic animals including cows, goats and buffalos in open spaces near their shelters, risking theft of the cattle. Many cattle are also getting affected with different waterborne diseases.   

 lsmail, a farmer of Bagmara upazila, informed that some farmers were selling off their cattle at lower prices due to the food while the others are passing sleepless night guarding the cattle from theft. Brokers are roaming around in the flood-affected areas to buy cattle at lower prices. Some farmers also sold one or two cattle to buy food for the rest, he said.