Buying and selling of sacrificial animals has begun at Shariatpur's cattle markets ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. Buyers are purchasing what they can afford, and farmers are pleased with better prices than last time. But sales at the markets are not as brisk as hoped.

Buyers say higher prices have left their budgets short.

Farmers say rearing cattle has cost more because the price of feed, including oil cake and bran, has risen, so prices are a bit higher. They fear losses if Indian cattle enter the country illegally, and farmers have called on the government to take a tough line.

Buyers at the cattle market on the ground of Sakhipur Islamia High School, one of the biggest in Shariatpur, said every animal costs Tk 20,000 to 30,000 more, which is benefiting the sellers.

Buyer Mokhles Pradhania said: "I came to buy a cow of 4 to 5 maunds, but with prices like these I bought a local bull for Tk 1,55,000. Before, this animal would have cost at most Tk 1,25,000."

Farmer Mohammad Ali Sikder came to sell. "Prices are very high today. Many people have bargained for my local black cow, but I will not sell it for Tk 1,20,000. I will sell it for Tk 1,35,000. There are buyers in the market, but very few cattle are actually being sold," he said.

Farmer Amir Hossain said prices were very high that day. He had brought five cattle but had sold only one so far.

The upazila nirbahi officer, Abdullah Al Mamun, said he himself went to the market to buy a cow for sacrifice, but prices were very high, and so buyers are buying fewer cattle.

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