Unsold cattle turn into a bane for farmers

MAGURA, July 08: A large number of flattened cattle worth about Tk 1.8 billion have remained unsold in the district during the last Eid-ul-Azha, raising concern among farmers.

A total of 92,891 animals were fattened before the Eid in the district against local demand for 69,668, according to the district live stock office.

About 3,000 cows were sold outside the district. At present, more than 20,000 flattened cattle have still remained unsold.

Local cattle fatteners - many of them took loan to rear animals - are suffering huge losses for not sales of their cows.

Abu Reza of Nanduali village under Magura Sadar upazila said, "I fattened four cows to sell them during Eid-ul-Azha. I took loan from an NGO to fatten them."

"I am yet to repay the loan as two of my cattle still remained unsold. The interest of my loan is increasing every day."

Another cattle fattener, Golam Reza of Benipur village under the same upazila, said, "I fattened six cows to sell them during the Eid. But, three of my cattle have remained still unsold as buyers offered low prices. I need at least Tk 1,000 a day to feed them."

"Now, I am failing to bear huge costs for rearing my cattle," he regretted.

Cattle fattener Chandu Mian of Bashkutha village under Magura Sadar upazila said, "Every year we get worried over the unsold cattle after Eid-ul-Azha. If the government provides cattle fatteners with incentive for unsold cattle we can recoup losses."

Mofizur Rahman, a worker of Rova foundation (NGO), said, "Every year we face difficulties in recovering loan from cattle fatteners for not sales of cattle. Now, we have no alternative to putting up pressure on them for loan recovery."

When contacted, district live stock officer Mihir Chandra Biswas said the district has fattened surpass cattle compared to local demand, so cattle remained unsold.

"If we get instruction from our superior authorities to provide cattle fatteners with incentive, we shall do so."

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