Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, a large number of cattle have arrived at the Aronkola cattle market in Ishwardi, Pabna, one of the biggest in the north, but there are few buyers. There is plenty of looking and bargaining but little buying, even though the market is visibly crowded. More people are there to see the cattle than to buy them.

Buyers gave mixed views on prices. Most complained that cattle cost somewhat more than last year, though some said prices were not much higher. Sellers, for their part, said the price of everything, including cattle feed, had doubled since last year, and cattle prices had not risen in line.

Ishwardi upazila has four cattle markets. Aronkola and Awtapara are permanent, while Natun Hat and the Muladuli goat market are temporary. Aronkola is held every Tuesday and Awtapara every Sunday and Wednesday.

At Aronkola, hundreds of cattle were arriving from far and wide by truck, bhotbhoti and trolley, and there was an ample supply of animals of all sizes. Buyers were looking over the cattle they liked and haggling, and the bargaining gave the market a lively air.

Sayeed Hossain of Muladuli village in Ishwardi, who came to sell cattle, told Jagonews there were few buyers. "Everyone is walking around looking at cattle, but there is no buying. There are two more markets before Eid, and sales are expected to pick up at those," he said.

Trader Anwar Hossain brought 30 cattle from Dapunia village in Pabna Sadar upazila. "There are people to look at the cattle, but no one to buy. I have not sold a single one yet. Prices are also comparatively low," he told Jagonews.

Atiar Rahman of Aronkola village brought eight cattle. "Prices are much lower than last time. Bargaining is going on with buyers, but there are very few people buying sacrificial cattle today," he said.

Babu Sardar, who came from Ekdanta in Atgharia upazila, Pabna, to buy cattle, said prices seemed somewhat higher this year. "There are two more markets before Eid. I will look around and buy in the meantime," he said.

Isahak Ali, a buyer from Joynagar village in Ishwardi, said prices seemed lower than last time. "I will look around the market more today, or else come back to the next one," he said.

Badsha Pramanik of Malincha union in Pabna Sadar upazila bought a cow at Aronkola. "I bought it for Tk 1 lakh 15 thousand. Prices seem somewhat lower than in other years," he told Jagonews.

Mizanur Rahman Runu Mondal, who leases the Aronkola market, said more people came to look than to buy. Plenty of cattle and buffaloes had arrived and the market was full of people, but there had been little buying. He hoped sales would be better at the two markets left before Eid.

Ishwardi upazila livestock officer Aklima Khatun said two medical teams of 10 members each had been formed for the upazila's four markets. The members would stay at the markets all day on market days in rotation and treat any cattle or goats that fell ill.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Ishwardi Circle) Pranab Kumar told Jagonews that extensive security preparations had been made for the upazila's cattle markets ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. Uniformed and plain-clothes police would be at the markets, and police would be on maximum alert to prevent any untoward incident. Counterfeit-note detection machines would be set up to stop fake money circulating, and police would also watch that animal transporters were not subjected to extortion on the roads.

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