With Eid-ul-Azha approaching, trading has begun to pick up at the capital's cattle markets. Sellers say, however, that although the markets are well stocked, buyers are few, and most of those who come offer low prices. Many farmers and traders fear losses.

That was the picture at the Kalshi cattle market in Mirpur on the morning of 25 May. Intermittent rain from early morning turned the market grounds to mud. Some sellers cleared away the mud, others moved their cattle out of the rain, and many were seen hand-feeding their animals.

Saiful Sheikh brought five cows from Kalukhali in Rajbari and is asking Tk 2.3 lakh to Tk 2.4 lakh for each. He said he was not finding the buyers he hoped for.

"Looking at the market, I don't think I can sell all my cows and go home," he said. "When I name a price, buyers say they have no budget. They hear the price and walk away. Yet cattle feed costs a lot. Buyers are now offering Tk 20,000 to 30,000 less per cow."

Abdul Gafur, another seller from the same district, brought nine cows to Kalshi. He has sold two of them for Tk 3.6 lakh. He complained that although he is asking Tk 1.5 lakh for the rest, buyers will not offer more than Tk 1 lakh.

"There are only two days left, but there are few buyers at the market. If people don't buy cows now, when will they?" he said.

Buyers, on the other hand, say sellers are asking too much. Shibli Ahmed, a salaried employee, bought a cow for Tk 1.63 lakh. "The market hasn't really got going yet. Sellers are asking a bit more, but I didn't bargain very hard," he said.

Visitors showed the most interest in large cattle. Shahadat Hossain brought 12 cows from Tangail and is asking Tk 8 lakh for one of them.

"I raised this cow for seven years as a passion. It will give about 26 to 27 maunds of meat. Everyone is looking at it and taking pictures, but they are offering little. The highest offer has been Tk 5 lakh. I will sell it if I get Tk 6.5 lakh," he said.

Amir Hossain, a seller from Hemayetpur in Savar, described the same experience. He brought six large cows and is asking about Tk 8 lakh for each. "People look at the cows and take pictures, but they don't make an offer," he said.

Kamrul Hasan, who lives in the Matikata area of the capital, came to Kalshi with his son and colleagues. He said their budget was Tk 2 lakh to Tk 2.5 lakh, but they could not find a cow they liked within it.

"The ones we like, they are asking Tk 3.5 lakh to Tk 4 lakh for. So we are now going to the Gabtoli market," he said.

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