Trade at Pabna's sacrificial animal markets has yet to pick up. The markets are packed with buyers and sellers, but few animals are changing hands. Where sales are happening, cattle are going for Tk 30,000-35,000 a maund. Those involved expect trade to rise in the last few days.

At the Pushpapara market in Pabna, large numbers of cattle, buffalo, goats and sheep had been brought in ahead of Eid, with cattle and castrated goats the most numerous.

Sellers had brought bulls from far away on large nosimons, pickups and other vehicles. Although they had stood with their bulls in the intense heat since morning, there were few sales.

Sellers said that not only at Pushpapara but at markets across Pabna, cattle had flooded in over the past few days while sales stayed low, with buyers mostly just looking. Those buying for the sacrifice are holding off to avoid the trouble of keeping and feeding the animals, and fewer traders than before have come from Dhaka, Chattogram, Narayanganj and elsewhere.

Bulls weighing under 4 maunds are fetching about Tk 32,000-35,000 a maund, while larger cattle are selling at up to Tk 30,000.

Buyers said prices of up to Tk 30,000 a maund would be within their means, and even Tk 32,000 would not be much of a problem, but anything higher would cause some difficulty.

Trader Nazrul Islam said: "I bought a cow that will give 4 maunds of meat for Tk 1,35,000. It will cost another Tk 5,000 until it is sold. If I sell for under Tk 1.5 lakh there will be no profit. Buying has not really started yet, but small and local cattle for the sacrifice will come to nearly Tk 40,000 a maund, and big and crossbred ones Tk 32,000-35,000."

Trader Sakiruddin said the market for large cattle had been soft for several days. "I brought three cattle of 8 maunds each. The price is not going above Tk 2 lakh. Fewer buyers are coming from Dhaka and outside, so sales are low."

Another trader, Md Moktar, said: "I brought eight cattle of 3-6 maunds. One of 5.5 maunds was bought for Tk 1,65,000; it has to sell for Tk 1,70,000-75,000. The market is not good. Two days ago I took six to the Tarabaria market and brought three bulls back."

He said that by the day's market, cattle under 4 maunds were going for Tk 32,000-35,000 a maund and heavier ones for up to Tk 30,000. Prices should rise a little if trade picks up, "but I can't tell where it will finally settle".

Sohan, who came from Nurpur in Pabna town, said: "I kept wondering whether to buy this early or not, and ended up buying a bull for Tk 1,57,000. It may give about 5.5 maunds of meat. Now I'm worried about keeping it."

Pabna town resident Abdul Matin Khan bought a black bull for the sacrifice for Tk 2,75,000, reckoned at 8 maunds, which works out at more than about Tk 34,000 a maund, with the market toll and feeding and care until Eid still to come. He is not worried about the price. "Things for the sacrifice are not counted in money. I liked how it looked, so I bought it even though the price is high," he said.

Rezaul Pramanik, who came to sell cattle from Koijuri Sripur in Ataikula police station area, said cattle over 5 maunds were going for Tk 30,000-32,000 a maund and small ones for Tk 35,000. "I've brought a bull that will weigh over 9 maunds. The offers are within Tk 2.5 lakh. At most it might reach Tk 2,80,000; I don't think it will go higher. There are hardly any buyers in the market."

According to the livestock department, the district needs 3,36,572 animals this year. Against this, 6,53,588 sacrificial animals are ready on 33,040 farms, including 2,64,005 cattle and 3,79,177 goats. The department says the surplus, about double the demand, will be supplied to other districts after local needs are met.

District livestock officer Dr Md Zahurul Islam said bulls and other sacrificial animals are being traded at 25 permanent and temporary markets in the district. Sales were slow at first but are now picking up. Officials are also watching to ensure no excess toll is collected, and they hope farmers will profit this time.

Pabna Deputy Commissioner Aminul Islam said various measures have been taken so that people in Pabna can celebrate Eid-ul-Azha smoothly, including machines to detect counterfeit notes, more police patrols at markets and on highways, and stopping excess tolls at markets.

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