Cattle farmers eye Tk 3000cr sale

Ashraful Islam Joy:

Cattle farmers in nine upazilas of Sirajganj district including Shahzadpur upazila are now passing busy time to fatten their cattle centering the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.

It is being expected that, the sale of cattle may cross over Tk 3000 crore this year.

Livestock Department sources said, farmers will be able to make a good profit, if Indian cattle are not imported to the country this year. This year, about 7 lakh cattle have been prepared for sacrifice here, which is comparatively higher than the last year.

Insiders said, the prices of cattle may be higher than the previous years due to high prices of cattle feeds.

According to the district Livestock Department, last year the number of sacrificial animals was 625,000 in Sirajganj. This year, the number has increased to 655,904.

Huge quantities of animals have been fattened at about 17,000 farms in nine upazilas of the district. Of them, 133,731 are bulls, 34,698 oxen, 16,362 cows, 3,874 buffaloes, 399,912 goats and 67,303 sheep, Livestock Department sources said.

The Livestock Department claimed that, the market value of these prepared animals will be about Tk 3,000 crore. Farmers are now fattening improved species of cattle, buffaloes, goats and sheep throughout the year in addition to producing milk in their farms. It is helping them to become self-reliant.

Many commercial animal fattening farms have also been established in the district in response to the needs of marginal farmers. The largest number of animals in the district are fattened in Shahjadpur upazila, which is known as a cattle pasture.

The fattened animals will be sold at different markets including Dhaka and Chattogram after meeting the local demand, which will boost the rural economy.

Due to fattening through natural process by feeding raw grass, vine leaves, khail (mustard cake) and husk, there is a high demand of Sirajganj’s animals across the country. People from far ways are already flocking to different farms in the district to buy cattle for Eid-ul-Azha.

Kaysar, a dairy farm owner in Char Raipur village of Sirajganj Sadar upazila said, “This year, I have fattened a number of cattle using native method. As the production cost has increased significantly, the price of sacrificial animals may go up this time. We have various types of cattle, which prices will between Tk 1 lakh and Tk 5.5 lakh.”

Abdus Salam, owner of Saurav Dairy Farm in Reshambari village of Shahjadpur upazila said, “It has now become difficult to continue dairy farm business due to high prices of fodders. However, I have prepared 50 cattle for selling in the market ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.”

Haji Abdus Sattar, owner of Chhoyamoni Dairy Farm in Sirajganj municipality said, “The government should need fixing the rate of cattle feeds in order to farmers can survive. Besides, banks should provide loans to the marginal farmers with a lower interest rate.”

Nazrul Islam, a marginal farmer of Tarash Upazila said, “Like every year, I have fattened four bulls applying local method with the hope of making a good profit. If Indian cattle are not entered into Bangladesh through borders, we will see a good day shortly.”

Sirajganj District Livestock Officer Dr. A. K. M. Anwarul Haque said, “We have set a target of selling sacrificial animals worth about Tk 3,000 crore on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha. After fattening and preparing animals, dairy farm owners in the district have now taken full preparation to start their business. Local, Indian, Shahiwal, Frezian, Bahama and other different species of cows have been prepared, targeting the upcoming Eid festival. Besides, goats of Totapuri, Horiana and Bitol species have been fattened and prepared for sales. This year, about 655,904 cattle have kept ready for sacrifice during the Eid. If everything is okayed, the sale may reach at Tk 3,000 crore.”