A total of 74,451 sacrificial animals have been prepared for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna.
Sources in the Ishwardi Upazila Livestock Office said the demand for sacrificial animals is 41,000 while there is a surplus of over 33,000 animals in the upazila. A total of 3,068 farms in Ishwardi have prepared 74,451 animals for sale ahead of Eid-ul-Azha this year.
Most of the sacrificial animals of the upazila will be sold at Orankola, the largest animal market in Ishwardi, and Aotapara, another animal market under Sahapur Union in the upazila. Besides, some animals will be taken to Salimpur market for sale.
While visiting different areas in the upazila, this correspondent talked to some cattle farmers.
The farmers said if they cannot sell the cows at a higher price this year, they may incur losses due to increase in the price of cow food. If the number of buyers in the markets increases, they expect to benefit from cattle sales.
On Tuesday afternoon, it was seen that there were many cows for sale in the Orankola cattle market. Nazrul Islam, a buyer who came to the market, said the traders are asking for higher prices.
Kamal Ahmed of Orankola area has come to the market to sell two cows that he reared. Two cows will yield 800 maunds of meat. He asked Tk 6 lakh for the two cows while buyers are offering Tk 5 lakh. He will sell the two cows if someone wants to buy them for Tk 5.5 lakh. Kamal said if he sells the cows for Tk 5.5 lakh, he will have some profit.
Another businessman named Sirajul Islam bought five cows, Tk 130,000 for each animal. When this correspondent talked to him, he said he will buy some more cows along with these and sell them in Chittagong. He hoped that he would benefit from the cattle.
Farm owners said the price of cow fodder has increased abnormally and they have still prepared sacrificial animals. When asked whether the farmers will suffer losses or not, Idris Ali, a farmer of Upazila’s Laikunda Union, said even if the price of cow food increases, it is unlikely that anyone will suffer losses. At this time, the demand increases while the sale of animals also increases. The price is also good.
Mizanur Rahman Runu Mondal, one of the directors of the Lease Committee of Orankola Animal Market, said the sale and purchase of sacrificial animals are going on at Orankola cattle market in accordance with the hygiene rules and government regulations. There are many cows in the market. As the price is a little high, the sales are low. It is expected that the sale and purchase will increase in the next week.
Ishwardi Upazila Livestock Officer Nazmul Hossain said nearly twice the number of sacrificial animals has been prepared in the upazila. Arrangements have been made to sell the cattle at Orankola, Aotapara and other markets in accordance with hygiene rules. Veterinarians are checking the health of animals in the market. According to the demand, the number of animals in the market is increasing and the buyers are buying as much as they can afford.
