Cattle traders, hoping to earn good profits from sale of their animals ahead of the holy Eid-ul-Azha festival, are in doubt whether this year’s income would also be lucrative.
Many cattle traders prepare and rear good quality animals for sacrifice during the three-day Eid. Most of them rear the animals in village farms hoping to fetch marginally good profits when sold in various designated cattle markets in the capital where customers usually pay good bargain price of the animals.
The current Covid-19 situation are now forcing the authorities to drastically reduce mass gathering by cutting down the number of cattle markets in the city which may badly affect the cattle traders who said many of them may not be able to travel to the capital and fetch fat amounts.
Recently, DSCC cut down their enlisted cattle markets to 10 from previously decided 13. Abu Naser, Public Relation Officer and spokesperson of the DSCC told Bangladesh Post that the decision was taken keeping in mind the situation of the coronavirus transmission.
Meanwhile, many traders expressed that they are not used to trading animals digitally (online). “We prefer bargaining on the spot for the benefit of both of us, customers as well as vendors,” Rahim Bepari, a cow trader from Munshiganj, said.
The online cattle trading platform dominates the traditional cattle markets where customers and beparis (animal owner) bargain and reach agreement on sale prices. But many cattle traders say they are not used to such manner and due to such practice, already enforced, discourages them from cattle farming.
“The number of the temporary cattle markets were reduced to prevent wider transmission of Covid-19 virus. Hygiene protocols will be prioritized in the markets that will be enforced very strictly,” he said.
While talking to this correspondent, Shourov, a cattle farmer from Manikganj said that he is in doubt whether he can sell all his cows (24) this year in the capital. “I heard that due to tighter restrictions there would be fewer cattle markets in Dhaka. Many of us may not be allowed to travel to take our cattle to the capital.”
“Last year I came to Dhaka two days before the Eid day and sold my cows within two days. However, this year, everything is still very confusing to me. The situation is very unstable because of the virus,” he said.
He further said that he has no idea what the price is going to be like this year. He expects to make a significant amount of profit but is worried about the cattle markets because no decision yet.
Many of the grassroot cattle farmers in Manikganj were affected by the floods that took place last year. However, no such indication has been seen yet for this year. The farmers plan on bringing their cattle into the capital as per planned but have little idea of what to expect when they reach their destination.
Last week, DNCC inaugurated their online cattle market and the DNCC Mayor, Md. Atiqul Islam stated that this year, one lakh cattle is targeted to be sold from the platform.
“Last year we sold around 25 thousand cattle through the website and this year, we encourage online purchase due to the Covid situation and target to sell one lakh cattle”, said the mayor.
The platform has been equipped with advanced safety protocols in order to prevent any sort of deceit while purchasing the sacrificial animal.
While taking to this correspondent, Kawsar, a cattle farmer from Keraniganj, said that this year, the online platforms may have a larger impact in the market compared to last year.
He said that his brother in Dhaka has informed him about multiple platforms that are ready to display sacrificial animals on their websites. The platform owners have reached out to many farmers in order to display images of their animals on their sites.
“My brother said that besides being in the cattle markets, I should also display images of my cows online. I can submit an expected price and if the platform can sell my cows for more, they keep the extra and give me my expected amount,” he said
Kawsar has already sent digital images and measurements of his cows to his brother in order to contact reliable online platforms.
Recently, Fisheries and Livestock Minister S M Rezaul Karim said that the government will not allow entry of any cattle from outside the country ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
Last year, in the final hours before the Eid, Dhaka was reported to have experienced a crisis of the sacrificial cattle. The approximate number of cattle available last year was 1.18 crore.
This year, according to the Department of Livestock Services there are 1.20 crore sacrificial animals, including 45.47 lakh cows and buffaloes would be available this year.