Post-Eid surplus a bane for Magura cow raisers

MAGURA, June 18: Cow fatteners in Magura district are facing a difficult challenge of handling a post-Eid surplus of unsold sacrificial cattle.
Sources said cow fatteners in the district had raised a big surplus of cattle compared to the demand targeting sales in Eid-ul-Azha markets this year.
But lack of customers and fair price compelled them to be abstained from selling a huge volume of cattle.
Fatteners' sources said they had raised a total of 7,6974 cattle before Eid-ul-Azha while the demand was 62,506, meaning the district produced 14,468 surplus cattle. After the Eid, about 14,000 cattle were left unsold in the district.
The price of the total unsold cattle is about Tk 1.0 billion.
Unsold cattle of such a big worth has raised grave concern among the farmers.
Golam Mowla of Jagla village under under Magura sadar upazila said, "I fattened four cattle to sell in Eid market but I am still holding two for want of customers. I took loan of Tk 0.3 million from local NGO for fattening cows. Though I have already repaid Tk 0.2 million, I have to repay
Tk 0.15 million more and interest. But I am failing to do so as my two cattle remain unsold. Everyday NGO workers are coming to my house to recover their loan. But I am failing to do repay the load."
Mrinal Kanti, a cow fattener at Akshi village under Magura sadar upazila, told, "I had purchased two cattle at Tk0.17millon four months back before Eid-ul- Azha. Including fodder cost for fattening the cattle my investment was more than Tk 0.3million.
But in Eid market the money customers offered for the cattle was below 0.3 million. Consequently I did not sell my cattle. On the other hand, I am spending at least Tk1,000 per day for the fodder of the
two cattle."
Another cow fattener Abul Kalam of Jagla village said, "Unsold cattle have become a headache for the fatteners. We are facing pressure from NGO workers to repay the loan taken for buying the cattle."
On the other hand, high fodder cost for the cattle has mounted their frustration.
The government should come forward to solve this crisis steaming from such a big volume of cattle remaining unsold after the Eid, the cow raisers said.
When contacted, district veterinary officer Dr Mihir Kanti Biwas said, "As an additional number of cattle were fattened in the district compared to the demand, those will remain unsold; it is natural. However I am not able to mention the exact number of cattle unsold."

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