Cattle will be pricier by more than 10 per cent in the run-up to this Eid-ul-Azha, a religious festival of the Muslims, though the country has a stock of 12.5 million cattle for sale.
It was disclosed Saturday by Fisheries and Livestock secretary Dr Nahid Rashid during a cattle farm visit at Mohammadpur-Beribadh in the city.
The secretary said local farmers and farms are ready with approximately 12.5 million animals suitable for sacrifice against 12.1 million in 2022.
She gave the information while visiting the Sadeeq Agro Ltd after inspecting various other farms in the Mohammadpur-Beribadh area on the day.
Dr Nahid Rashid said there would be no need to import any animals and "to protect local farmers; we have increased surveillance in the border areas against any smuggling in cattle.
About any unnecessary harassment of farmers and buyers from various parts of the country before the Eid, Dr Rashid said the National Emergency Service hotline number-999 would remain active.
She also mentioned, 'If there crises any need to make any other hotline number available, we would finalise it in the inter-ministerial meeting scheduled for June 14."
Director General of the Department of Livestock Services Dr Md Emdadul Haque Talukder said that they had already been able to reduce the price of animal feed to some extent.
As the Bangladesh Dairy Farmers Association (BDFA) made a request to ensure hassle-free movement of purchased animals from cattle farms, the ministry said it would issue a gazette in this regard, if needed.
BDFA President Imran Hossain said prices of animals might increase by 10-12 per cent amid a surge in feed prices by more than 60 per cent in a year.
He said, "We want assurance from the government that people could get animals from the farms hassle-free".
Mr Hossain, also owner of Sadeeq Agro, said he targeted sale of 1900 cows and buffalos and 600 goats and sheep this year.
Those, who will purchase animals weighing less than 400 kg, could buy them at Tk 500 a kg while the delivery will be free of charge, he said.
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