Eid-ul-Azha is only days away. Ahead of Eid, 386,396 cattle and other livestock have been prepared in Sirajganj. But farmers and small growers are worried about prices, and buyers are anxious too.

With fodder prices up sharply this year, it has cost more to prepare sacrificial animals. Even so, compared with the last few years, the number of animals fit for sacrifice this year exceeds the district's demand.

According to the district livestock office, the district's demand for sacrificial animals is 160,000. In the nine upazilas, 386,396 animals have been fattened, with a target set at Tk 3,000 crore. They include 171,712 bulls, 1,405 buffaloes, 155,000 goats and 61,133 sheep. After meeting the district's demand, 226,396 animals will go to various districts of the country.

Mahmudul Hasan Sihab, manager of Arav Agro Farm in Sirajganj Sadar upazila, told Jagonews24 that about a hundred sacrificial animals had been fattened on the farm by local methods. But with fodder expensive, they are worried about getting prices to match the animals.

Abdul Momin of Shyampur village in Shialkol union of the same upazila said: "Every year my brothers and I sacrifice together. But at this year's cattle prices, I doubt whether we will be able to."

Abdul Mottaleb, a farmer in Raiganj upazila, is worried about recovering the real cost of his animals with fodder prices rising. "The cattle we hope to sell for Tk 3 lakh have already cost us about Tk 2.8 lakh," he said.

Rubel Ahmed, an assistant teacher at Chandpur Government Primary School in the same upazila, told Jagonews24 that sacrificial animal prices are rising because fodder is expensive, and many people in society will not be able to make a sacrifice this year for lack of money.

Shahjadpur Upazila Livestock Officer Dr Mizanur Rahman told Jagonews24 there are about 7,000 cattle farms in the upazila. Genuine farmers should grow improved grass to meet their fodder needs, which will cut feed costs; grass is also very good for livestock, he said.

Sirajganj Livestock Officer Dr Gauranga Kumar Talukder told Jagonews24: "We expect livestock worth about Tk 3,000 crore to be sold in the district this year. Buyers can get animals from 31 permanent and 16 temporary cattle markets in the district. Animals will also be sold online, with photos uploaded through the upazila livestock offices." He said the rise in fodder prices had put farmers in some difficulty.

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