In the lead-up to the festival of Eid-ul-Azha, online cattle markets are experiencing a surge in popularity as buyers turn to digital platforms to purchase sacrificial animals.
With trucks loaded with cows arriving, many individuals are opting to buy directly from farms or through online platforms, avoiding last-minute hassles associated with physical markets.
As the festive season approaches, proactive buyers are securing sacrificial animals in advance from farmers, ensuring a hassle-free experience. For those who prefer avoiding the inconvenience physical markets or farms such as Qurbani Haat, online platforms have become a welcome alternative.
One such platform, ‘Digital Haat’ has once again emerged as a leading online marketplace offering a diverse array of sacrificial animals. This initiative is a collaboration between A2I, Ekshop, Dhaka North City Corporation, Bangladesh Dairy Farmers Association, and E-CAB, operating under the ICT department of the government.
In addition to the central online market, ‘Digital Haat’ has expanded to district and upazila-level markets nationwide. The digital haat provides various features, including a digital cow weight calculator and a designated area in Purbachal for accommodating sacrificial animals. Sellers utilizing the platform can also accept online payments, and butchers are also available for hire.
Farmers appreciate the opportunity to sell animals directly from their farms, sparing themselves from enduring the sun and rain all day at physical markets. Some small-scale farmers expressed their preference for online selling, citing advantages such as lower prices compared to the market.
By purchasing sacrificial animals from farms or online platforms, buyers can potentially secure them at a price lower than the market rate. Farmers attribute this price difference to the elimination of middlemen present in makeshift animal markets, where prices tend to be inflated by around 10 percent.
The farm authorities reported that approximately 50 percent to 60 percent of the cows have already been sold. Some buyers have either left their purchased cows at the farm or made advance bookings, while others have taken their cows home immediately.
President of the Bangladesh Dairy Farmers Association Mohammad Imran Hossain told Bangladesh Post that the price of sacrificial animals at farms is at least five percent lower compared to the market. The absence of middlemen in farm and online markets allows buyers to purchase directly from farmers, resulting in reduced prices.
The digitalization of the buying process has not only benefited urban areas but has also reached villages and remote regions of the country. Marginal farmers now have access to market prices in Dhaka, enabling buyers in the capital to engage with farmers through video calls and observe prevailing market rates. These digital advancements align with the government's goal of building a smart Bangladesh by modernizing and digitizing various sectors, as emphasized by Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim.
Furthermore, some online platforms have pre-fixed prices for animals, while others offer bargaining opportunities. Additionally, several platforms are arranging home delivery of ordered animals after slaughtering.
With a demand of 10,394,739 sacrificial animals in the country, preparations are well underway, with 102,536,333 animals available. Surpassing the demand, there are 2,141,594 surplus animals ready for sacrifice.
In addition to 'Digital Haat,' other prominent online platforms include bikroy.com, Bengal Meat, Sadeeq Agro, Madul, among others, providing buyers with a range of choices.
E-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (E-CAB) executive director Jahangir Alam Shovan gave an update on the country's online sacrificial cattle market. This year the online haat started from June 20. Approximately 60,000 animals were sold through the Digital Haat last year.
According to sources from Bikroy.com, during the previous Eid, around 9,000 sacrificial animals were listed for sale on their site, with approximately 3,000 animals being sold. This year, the authorities are hoping to surpass those numbers by publishing over 10,000 sacrificial animal advertisements on their site.
