A festive atmosphere now prevails at the sacrificial animal markets in Magura ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. Farmers and traders are bringing cows and goats from across the district and neighbouring districts. Although buyer numbers are rising, trading has not yet fully picked up. Large cows have become a special attraction for visitors, but demand is highest for medium cows.

On Monday (25 May), large crowds were seen at the weekly cattle market in the Alamkhali area of Sadar upazila. The market was full of small, medium and large local-breed cows and goats. Buyers were looking around and haggling, but many had not yet made a final decision. Sellers say trading will increase as Eid draws closer.

Several huge cows at the market caught everyone's eye. These are being priced at between Tk 5 lakh and Tk 8 lakh.

However, the market shows most buyers are interested in small and medium sacrificial animals. Given economic realities, demand is highest for that category this year.

Sellers say that with no Indian cattle coming in, demand for local farmers' animals has risen. But because of farm running costs, especially high fodder prices, many are worried about expected profits.

Cattle seller Abu Taleb said: "There are big crowds at the market, but sales are low by comparison. I hope the market will pick up further before Eid."

Seller Junayed Ahmed said buyers were haggling hard and many were still watching the situation. He hopes trading will increase as Eid approaches.

Buyers, on the other hand, think sacrificial animal prices are relatively tolerable this year, though they expect prices may rise somewhat at the last moment before Eid.

Buyer Azgar Mondal said he had come to see the market situation and would buy if he liked the price.

Shawkat Hossain said good-quality cows had come from different areas. Prices were broadly within reach, but sellers were asking a lot for big cows, he said.

Babul Mia said he had already bought two medium-sized cows and planned to buy two more when the chance came.

Concern over profit and loss is clear among farmers, though. Householder Siraj Mia said the cost of raising cattle had risen a great deal. "If a Tk 1 lakh cow has to be brought down to Tk 70,000-80,000, farmers will suffer big losses," he said.

Dr Mihir Kanti Biswas, deputy director of the Magura district livestock office, said the district's demand for sacrificial animals is 65,508, against production of 76,973 animals, raised on 7,663 farms in the district. After meeting local demand, more than 14,000 animals can be supplied to other districts.

On security, Aminur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Magura's Ramnagar Highway Police Station, said security had been tightened around the cattle markets. Special surveillance is in place so that traders and buyers can transact safely and return home with their money without trouble. Swift legal action will be taken if any crime or untoward incident occurs, he said.

Overall, Magura's sacrificial animal markets have come back to life. Buyer crowds are growing, haggling continues, and the closer Eid gets, the livelier the market becomes.

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