Large numbers of cattle have arrived at Aronkola cattle market in Ishwardi, one of the biggest in the north, ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, but there are few buyers. People are looking and bargaining, but sales are low. Buyers complain that prices are high, while sellers say that the cost of feed and everything else has doubled compared with last year, and cattle prices have not risen to match. Despite the slow trade, the crowds were striking, and buyers and sellers kept the market busy.

A visit to Aronkola market at 3pm on Tuesday (13 June) found hundreds of cattle arriving from far and near on trucks, local motor-vans (bhotbhoti) and trolleys. There were plenty of cattle of all sizes, buyers were choosing and haggling, and the bargaining gave the market a lively air.

Amchher Ali, who came from Mirpur in Kushtia to buy cattle, told Jago News: "Hundreds of traders like me have come to Aronkola to buy. A lot of cattle and buffaloes have arrived here, and prices are somewhat lower than in other areas. I will buy here and take them back to my area. So far I have bought four and I want to buy another 10 to 15."

Jibon Hossain, a cattle trader and farmer from the College Road area of Ishwardi town, said: "The market is crowded but there are no sales. I brought 50 cattle. Many people are looking and asking prices, but they are not buying. In other years, sales of sacrificial cattle and buffaloes start 20 to 25 days before Eid, but not this time. Cattle prices are not much higher than other years; they have not risen in line with feed prices."

Akbar Hossain Aku, a cattle trader from Aronkola, said plenty of cattle and buffaloes had come in. Traders were buying to some extent, while local people planning to sacrifice had come to see what prices were like. Cattle priced from Tk 1 lakh to Tk 4 lakh have been brought for Eid, most of them bulls of three to five maunds.

Arif Biswas, from the Collegepara area of Ishwardi town, said: "I came to buy a small cow for the sacrifice. Prices are higher than last year. Even a cow that gives three maunds of meat will cost more than Tk 1 lakh this time. There are more markets before Eid. It seems to me that sellers are not selling in the hope of higher prices. I hope prices will fall at the markets just before Eid. I am bargaining to buy one within my means."

Saiful Islam of Rooppur village in the upazila said: "I came to the market to buy a sacrificial cow. Walking around, I realised prices are quite steep compared with other years. There are still about two weeks to Eid, and I hope prices will come down by then. If I cannot buy at this market, I will buy at the next one, Inshallah."

Mizanur Rahman Runu Mondol, the lessee of Aronkola cattle market, said more people had come to look than to buy. There were enough cattle and buffaloes and the market was full of people, but not much had been sold.

Ishwardi upazila livestock officer Dr Nazmul Islam said a medical team is working at Aronkola market to carry out health checks and treat cattle. There are arrangements for examining and diagnosing suspect animals as well as giving first aid.

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