A large number of cattle have arrived at Mongla's traditional Chaterhat this year. But with no Indian cattle entering the market, sellers are asking high prices, and buyers who cannot find cattle at the prices they want are disappointed.

Cattle traders said they have fattened Shahiwal, Friesian and local breeds. Because they are large and good-looking, Shahiwal and Friesian cattle are in greater demand among the well-off, while middle-class buyers are leaning towards small and medium local cattle.

In this salinity-prone area there is not enough grass or straw, so farmers have to buy other feed for their cattle. With feed prices rising, farmers are struggling to rear cattle. Even so, they hope to make a profit because there are no Indian cattle in the market.

A visit to Chaterhat on the morning of Tuesday, 27 June, found the market full of cattle. Farmers had brought them from far and wide on nosimon and korimon vehicles. With no Indian cattle or buffaloes in the market, demand and prices for local cattle have risen.

Cattle trader Nazrul Islam said trading had not picked up much because prices are high this year. He brought 30 cattle to the market and has so far sold seven.

Masud, a farmer from the Miapara area of the municipal town, said he fattened 45 cattle by natural methods last year. Because of the rise in feed prices, he fattened only 25 this year and brought them to the market, and has so far sold nine.

Although enough animals have reached the market, sales are low because of high prices. Buyers say prices are much higher than last time, making it hard to buy a sacrificial animal, and most people were seen going home empty-handed.

Mahbubur Rahman Tutul, Jahangir, Selim and Bellal, who came to buy cattle, said they had toured the market for three days without buying. "Prices are much higher than last year. The money needed this time is beyond our means. Still, we have to buy a cow; there is nothing else we can do," they said.

Chaterhat lease-holder Mostafa Ijaradar said security has been ensured at the market, counterfeit notes are being checked, livestock officials are supervising, and the toll charged is lower than at other markets. But sales are low because animal prices are high.

Mohammad Samsuddin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Mongla police station, said police are working round the clock to keep law and order at the cattle market, and there is police surveillance at important points in the town so that buyers can get home safely with their animals.

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