Trade has begun at Moulvibazar's cattle markets ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, with about 74,000 local animals prepared for the sacrifice in the district. Buyers say big cattle are cheap, but sellers are asking comparatively high prices for small and medium cattle, which as always are in highest demand.

Buyers at various markets in the district said cattle prices are low this year, but small and medium cattle cost comparatively more. Demand for big cattle is very low, and in villages small and medium cattle are the ones most often sacrificed.

Farmers said there are countless large and small farmers across Moulvibazar's seven upazilas. They have begun bringing cattle to market and sales have started, but buyers do not want to pay. Demand is highest for small and medium cattle, and high feed prices are why higher prices are being asked.

According to the district livestock office, more animals than needed have been prepared for Eid this year. There are about 6,225 large and small farmers in the district, and 39,481 cattle, 1,446 buffalo, 30,822 goats and 2,835 sheep have been prepared. The demand for sacrificial animals this year is 71,472, against 74,584 animals prepared.

Visits to markets in the district showed plenty of cattle but few sales. Because sellers are asking high prices, buyers cannot buy, especially for small and medium cattle.

At several large markets, including Adampur Bazar, Tengra Bazar, Brahmanbazar, Shamshernagar Bazar and Bhairab Bazar, local middlemen were buying cattle one by one from farmers and selling them on to the district's big wholesalers.

Siam Chowdhury said: "I bought a cow for the sacrifice for Tk 95,000. Sellers are reluctant to come down. At first they asked me Tk 1,30,000 for this cow, though its market value would be about Tk 90,000. I managed to buy it after bargaining."

Farmer Saidul Islam said: "I have eight cattle on my farm prepared for the Eid sacrifice. I have sold only two, and did not get the price I hoped for. Buyers offer low prices."

District livestock officer Dr Md Ashraful Alam Khan said Moulvibazar has more sacrificial animals than it needs. Medical teams will be kept at every market to examine cattle. Besides farms, farmers' households also have many animals, which are being sent to other districts after meeting local demand.

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