Cow-fattening programme before Eid-ul-Azha getting popular

FARIDPUR, Aug 11 (BSS): Cow-fattening, a practice developed for fetching high price by increasing the weight and size of a cow, has been popular in this district for last two decades.
According to District Livestock department sources, generally this project of fattening the cow by increasing its weight and size is taken up by individuals and in some cases by a family just at the advent of Ramadan so that through care and nourishment of the cow farmers can earn handsome amount at the Eid-ul-Azha market.
Tracing the background of fattening cow, it is found that this practice was introduced in different 'Char' areas particularly in river-erosion areas by SIDA(Swedish International Development Agency) aided PEP (Production Employment Project) of BRDB.
The PEP with a view to creating employment for the poor village women to be self-reliant extended loan for rice husking, cattle rearing, duck and poultry rearing along with cow fattening.
According to a BRDB source these projects created enormous employment opportunities for poor women. However, the PEP suspended the loan program with the stopping of financing by SIDA till 2000.
But the cow fattening project is still very popular in this district. District Livestock Officer(DLO), Faridpur Dr M Hasanuzzaman told BSS that about one thousand cows in nine upazilas of this district are now under intense care and nourishment of fattening programme.