Jhenaidah farmers faced significant financial setbacks this Eid ul-Azha, with 47% of cattle returned unsold from the market. Farmers and farm owners had prepared over 3.15 lakh cattle for sale, but low demand shattered their hopes.
A number of farm owners and individual farmers who were rearing the cattle heads at village Habibpur in Shailkupa and Dakbangla in Jhenaidah sadar upazila said they had prepared the cattle heads feeding the fodder at a higher price, hopping a better price during the Korbani market. But their hope and aspiration were shattered as most of the animals were taken back from the market due to low demand.
Farmer Alam Mia of village Habibpur in Jhenaidah, when contacted, said he sold two of his cows at Taka 1.80 lakh in the Korbani market, while he had sold the same at Taka 2.00 lakh in the last year. It had affected him badly when there was almost “no demand” for the animals this season. The present trend of the price might affect the expansion of the dairy farms in the district, he said.
According to a source related to the office of the district livestock officer (DLO) in Jhenaidah, the yearly demand for animals was 189,740 in the current season, while the farmers and farm owners had prepared a total of 319,131 animals throughout the district. Here, 129,391 animals were surplus from the demand.
Dr. Subrata Kumar Banerjee, district livestock officer (DLO) in Jhenaidah, when contacted, said that although the individual farmers and dairy farm owners in Jhenaidah always care about their animals and play significant role in the sector, the total production in the country stands at about 20 percent more than the present demand. And that is why the additional animals could not be consumed in the market. The farmers and dairy farm owners in Jhenaidah are also the victim of the additional production of animals.
The livestock officer added that the farmers in Jhenaidah district prepare the animals for at least Taka 1,000 crore in a year. They have been playing a part in meeting the national demand of sacrificial animals and some other purposes throughout the year.The DLO said the farmers and farm owners who prepare improved variety of animals were affected financially as the price was always the lowest, while the local varieties were ensuring almost better prices for the farmers. They had been advising the farmers to place emphasis on rearing the local varieties that require least fodder and ensure better prices, Dr. Subrata Kumar Banerjee said.
