BOGURA, Oct 19: Cattle rearers are facing severe problems due to acute shortage of feed for their animals after floodwater has started receding in Bogura.
They are being compelled to sell their cattle at cheap price being unable to feed them properly.
Meanwhile, the animals have begun to become thin and weak.
Due to heavy rains and landslides in the 4th phase flood in Sariakandi, Sonatola, Dhunot and Shajahanpur upazilas of the district, a good number of grazing fields have been inundated and destroyed completely.
An official at the SonatolaUpazila Livestock Office said, "Farmers have lost their way due to increase in the price of cattle feed in the market."
"Many are forced to sell their animals at low prices," he added. Considering the plight of the cattle rearers, the authorities think that the farmers should immediately be provided with necessary support, he said further. Families affected by repeated floods are still in dire straits with their livestock.
Due to flooding in different areas of the district, the fields and haystacks have been destroyed.
Some 400 cattle from 47 farms took shelter in high places, dams and flood shelters, but 26 tonnes of raw grass and two onnes of hay were lost due to drowning.
Samsul Alom, a vendor in Tekany Chukainagar area of Sonatola upazila, said floods destroyed cattle feed in different areas of the district.
"Seeing the crisis of cattle feed in the district, we are buying hay from Naogaon and Chapainawabganj and selling it," he added.
District Livestock Officer MdRafiqul Islam Talukder said some farmers have been provided with granular food for animals.
"Even after that there is a cattle feed crisis and we are trying to get more allocation through the Ministry of Disaster Management," he added.
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