Prices of sacrificial animals for Eid-ul-Azha have risen compared with last year because of higher feed prices and rearing costs. Buyers cannot find animals at the prices they want, while sellers are worried about not getting a fair price. Buyers and sellers said this at the capital's Aftabnagar haat on Sunday, 25 June.

Sellers said cattle prices are up by Tk 20,000 to Tk 50,000 on last year. At the same haat last year, small and medium cattle (3 to 5 maunds) sold for Tk 28,000–29,000 a maund and large cattle (over 5 maunds) for Tk 26,000–27,000 a maund. This year small and medium cattle are selling for Tk 32,000–35,000 a maund and large cattle for Tk 30,000–32,000 a maund, though most traders open with even higher prices.

Traders said demand is higher for small cattle this year because of the prices. Those coming to the haat now are buying small cattle, with the most demand for animals costing Tk 1 lakh to Tk 1.5 lakh. Among small cattle, the local breeds are the most sought after, while there are comparatively fewer buyers for large cattle.

At Aftabnagar, sellers have made extensive preparations for Eid. Despite the high prices there is no shortage of cattle, but there are far fewer buyers. The market is expected to get busier over the next two days. The haat lessee said trading began on Thursday but the main buying and selling would begin on Monday.

Abdul Salam, who brought seven large cattle from Natore, said: "I have brought all big cattle, with 8 to 14 maunds of meat. Because they are big, sales are low. In three days not a single customer has wanted to take one." He wants Tk 5.5 lakh for a 14-maund animal. "No one has even made an offer," he said. "I think big cattle will not fetch good prices this year."

Asaduzzaman Pintu from Kushtia brought 50 cattle, bought at an average of Tk 32,000 a maund. "I have brought 50 cattle and only one has sold in these three days," he said.

With costs high, farmers are not very satisfied with the prices of the cattle they have sold, and with supply plentiful they worry they will not get the prices they want in the end.

Pabna farmer Jamal Mia said he sold 16 cattle last year but did not get the prices he hoped for, and costs have risen a lot since. When he asks for more, buyers do not respond. This year he brought 30 cattle to the haat and has sold four, all small, at a thin profit. "There are no buyers for the big ones, but most of mine are big. If I have to sell cheaper in the end, I will make a loss."

He said most of the cattle on his farm weighed between 400 and 1,100 kg. Feed alone cost Tk 2 lakh to Tk 2.5 lakh per animal over nearly a year of rearing. He has not yet brought all his cattle to the haat and plans to bring the rest depending on the situation. "Cattle feed prices were high all year. Farmers made no profit, and the cost of rearing did not come down."

Although plenty of cattle have arrived at Aftabnagar, there is still no real crowd of buyers. Most people said business is not going as hoped because cattle prices are high. From morning to noon few buyers were seen, and most of those present were onlookers.

Buyer Anisuzzaman Helal said sellers are asking about Tk 20,000 to Tk 30,000 more for each small animal than last year. "It is almost impossible to buy at these prices. I cannot read the market." He added: "There are plenty of cattle and no buyers, yet nobody wants to come down on price."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.