Livestock farmers in Jamalpur are busy ahead of the coming Eid-ul-Azha. Having more animals ready than needed is a relief, but high feed prices have left farmers worried. Even so, many see a ray of hope in online sales.

According to the district livestock office, about 12,000 farmers in Jamalpur have 107,065 animals ready for Qurbani, while the district's demand is about 82,000. After meeting that demand, about 25,000 surplus animals will be sold in the capital and other parts of the country.

Visits to farms across the district from the morning of Saturday (16 May) found farmers who have spent months fattening cattle for Eid. Some tend every animal on the farm themselves; others have built their dream farms working day and night with family members. Healthy, attractive cattle have been raised on local and natural feed such as straw, grass, bran and maize.

Shanta Faraji, a farmer in Guthail in Islampur upazila, said: "I have raised the cattle with great care and love. I have never fed them adulterated or harmful feed. I raised them entirely on local, nutritious feed. This time I'll take them to the Qurbani market; with God's will, we'll wait and see how buyers respond."

Another farmer, Lavlu Sheikh, said feed prices have risen a lot and it is hard even to cover costs. If market prices fall, profit is out of the question; even surviving will be difficult, he said.

Alongside taking cattle to market, online sales of animals have grown this Eid. Many farmers are posting photos and videos of cattle on social media and online platforms to attract buyers, and they say the response has been good.

Farmer Md Faruk sells cattle online through a page called "Firoza Agro Farm". He said the weight of each animal is given with the photos and videos posted online, and cattle are selling at Tk 550 or Tk 500 a kg. Many are booking in advance, while others come to the farm, see the cattle and take them. People are getting in touch from different districts, so some cattle are sold before they even reach the market.

Jamalpur additional district livestock officer Dr ATM Habibur Rahman said small farmers are now also profiting by raising large cattle. The livestock department is keeping regular contact with farmers and giving them the advice they need, and various cattle markets in the district have also been made ready.

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