Khulna's qurbani markets have no shortage of animals, but buyers are scarce. Many middle-class people who performed qurbani in past years are not even going to the markets this year because of the coronavirus. Those who do come are offering less than half the sellers' asking price. Traders are deeply worried and fear they will not be able to sell their cattle and goats at the prices they hoped for at the last minute. If they take unsold cattle home, they will have to raise them for another year, and that is what worries them.

Joragate, Khulna's largest qurbani market, run by Khulna City Corporation, has still not picked up, though only two days remain before Eid. Enough cattle have arrived by trawler and truck from neighbouring districts, but there are no sales. Fewer buyers are visiting than in other years, and prices are low.

People involved with the market say that even though farmers are selling at a loss, buyers want to wait until the last moment in the hope of prices falling further. Many are also heading to village markets to buy cattle more cheaply.

At the Joragate market in the city, buyers were seen asking the price of a cow and then walking on to look at more animals rather than buying.

Rahadur Sheikh came from Kalia in Narail to sell cattle. He said he would make a loss if he sold his three-mon cow for less than Tk 60,000, but nobody at the market was offering more than Tk 45,000 to 50,000.

Because work has stopped during the coronavirus, cattle prices in rural areas are lower this year, and buyers are heading to village markets, it has been learned.

Ashik Iqbal, who lives in the Ghosher Bhita area of Tutpara in the city, said: "Every year I bought cattle from Joragate in the city, but this year I have decided to buy at Kharnia haat in Dumuria. At the last market there, cows weighing three mon sold for Tk 48,000 to 50,000. Last year I had to pay Tk 60,000 to 70,000 for those in Khulna."

He added that a big six-mon cow sold for Tk 96,000 at Kharnia haat this year.

Meanwhile, although people have been encouraged to buy cattle online during the coronavirus pandemic, buyers say online prices are higher and do not suit them, so online sales are also low.

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