With only five days to go to Qurbani Eid, animals have started to arrive at Gabtali, the city's only permanent cattle market. For now there are more people looking than buying. Several people at the market said buyers want medium-sized local cows, and prices are higher this year because fodder has become more expensive.

Rabiul Haque of Mirpur-2 came to Gabtali to look at cows but will buy just before Eid. "I live in a rented flat; where would I keep a cow now? I have come to check prices. I will buy a medium local cow that gives 4 to 5 maunds of meat. But prices are higher than last Eid," he said.

A visit to Gabtali on Monday, 4 July, found a sudden rise in curious visitors, few of them buyers. Of every 100 who look, 10 are buying. Mainly those with space at home to keep a cow are buying, and even then medium local cows.

A cow that will give five and a half maunds of meat is priced at Tk 1 lakh 70 thousand. Explaining the higher prices, Hafizul Islam, a farmer from Chuadanga Sadar, said: "Fodder costs more, and the rent for keeping a cow at the market is higher, Tk 3,000. Every cost is higher than before."

He said no Myanmar cattle had been seen at the market this year. Some Indian and Nepali cattle were seen, brought from India long ago and raised here, but the number is very small compared with other years.

Asked how sales were going, trader Rafiq Bepari said: "We made losses two years in a row. This time we will enjoy it. God willing, it will go well with all the cattle. But sales have not started yet. People in Dhaka don't have room to sleep; where will they keep a cow? Customers haven't come. Buyers will come two days before Eid; for now there are more lookers."

Hamza, a trader from Daulatpur in Kushtia, said: "I have brought 48 cows. Twice I have lost Tk 5 lakh. But there are fewer cattle this time; God willing, it will go well."

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