Eid-ul-Azhar is one month away. On the occasion of Eid, about 4 lakh cattle are being fattened on farms for sacrifice in 9 upazilas of Sirajganj. Among them there are 1 lakh 71 thousand 712 cows and 1 lakh 55 thousand goats. Besides, other animals include buffalo and sheep.
Farmers and marginal farmers are spending busy time in taking extra care and nurturing of animals at home along with the farm in the hope of extra profit. Besides the needs of the district, the cattle here meet the needs of different areas of the country.
Meanwhile, the price of beef is increasing gradually. Farmers’ expenditure on cow feed has increased by 25 to 30 percent. Farmers said that there will be loss if they cannot sell the cows at a fair price. Traders are afraid that the price of sacrificial animals will increase due to the increase in the price of beef.
According to the sources of the District Animal Resources Office, about 17 thousand small and big farmers have fattened different species of cows, buffaloes, goats and sheep in 9 upazilas of the district. 3 lakh 86 thousand 396 cattle have been fattened in the farm. Among them, 1 lakh 71 thousand 712 bulls, 1 thousand 405 buffaloes, 1 lakh 55 thousand goats and 61 thousand 133 sheep. The demand for animals for sacrifice in this district is 1 lakh 60 thousand. 2 lakh 26 thousand 396 animals will go all over the country to meet this demand. A campaign has been launched to prevent the use of any harmful chemical feed by farmers and individuals in fattening these animals. The district livestock department has set a target of buying and selling fattened animals worth about 3 thousand crore rupees in the district this year.
Farmers said that they will earn extra income by selling these cattle during Eid al-Adha. Farmers fatten the cattle by rearing them in their homes and farms throughout the year. The animals here are fattened by eating naturally grown green grass. Through small and large cattle farms, thousands of people in this district have been given employment and income.
Farmers pointed out the increase in the price of cow feed and said that the current market price of a bag of wheat husk weighing 37 kg is Tk 2,200, which was Tk 1,800 last year. A bag of 74 kg of kheil is now 3 thousand 400 to 3 thousand 600 taka, last year it was 2 thousand 800 taka. The price of 50 kg of paddy is Tk 900, last year it was Tk 700. Hay is now Tk 15 per kg, earlier it was Tk 10. Besides, the price of khesari and gram husk has increased by Tk 10 per kg. The price of cow fodder has increased by 7 to 8 times in the last few years. Two years ago the salary of farm workers was 8 to 10 thousand taka. Now no worker wants to work below 15 thousand.
Shafiur Rahman, manager of Talukdar Dairy Farm located in Kalia Kandapara of Sadar Upazila, said that 45 bulls have been prepared for sacrifice this year. But they fear that they will have to incur huge losses due to the abnormal increase in the price of beef.
Farmer Sujan of Sadar Upazila said, I have prepared 6 bulls for sale this year. I am in trouble due to increase in the price of cow-fodder. I am worried about getting the right price for the amount of cows being fed.
Mahmudul Hasan Sihab, Manager of Arav Agro Farm located in Sadar Upazila, Sayedabad UP, said that more than hundred bulls, buffaloes, goats, dumbas have been fattened in their farm by locals and foreigners. Animals worth Tk 1 lakh to Tk 15 lakh have been fattened in their farm. Most of which animals are sold from the farm. Besides, they fatten the animals and sell them throughout the year.
Shahjadpur Upazila Livestock Officer Dr. Mizanur Rahman said that the number of cow farms in this upazila is about 7 thousand. Those who are real farmers need to grow quality grass to meet the demand of cattle fodder. This will reduce the cost of cow feed. Besides, grass is very beneficial for cow’s health. It will be very difficult for the farmers who are dependent only on cow fodder such as husk, chaff and hay to make a profit by rearing cows.
Saiful Islam, the lessee of the hundred-year-old traditional Talgachi haat in the district, said that the Qorbani haat has not been established yet. Foreign affairs are not coming. Sale of cows will start within 2 to 3 weeks of sacrifice. The market has not yet accumulated.
District Animal Husbandry Dr. Gaurang Kumar Talukder said that after inspecting the farms of each upazila, we are giving medicines along with the necessary advice to the farmers. This time we expect to buy and sell fattened animals worth about 3 thousand crore rupees in the district. We have already spoken to various banks in the district as per the instructions of the central bank. Every market will have bank people. Livestock buyers and sellers can avail e-banking transaction services using any bank account and QR code.
He also said that these cattle will be sold through 31 permanent and 16 temporary cattle markets in the district. Apart from this, he said that pictures of animals will be uploaded and sold online through the Upazila Livestock Office.
