Fall in Indian cattle imports has pushed up domestic prices of animals, which sector people and experts say might encourage farmers and businesses in cattle farming.
Economists, livestock experts and farmers said if a comprehensive programme is taken up, it can help Bangladesh become almost self-reliant in cattle production in the next five years.
Cattle farm owner in Kushtia Sadar Upazila Md Zahurul Hoque said if the Indian cow import is restricted, then the local cow price will be higher, helping rural farmers to reap the benefits.
He said price of local cow has increased by 40-45 per cent in the last two months, which is encouraging many farmers to start cow fattening.
He said many farmers left cattle farming a decade ago after failing to compete with low cost foreign cows.
Traders in Sirajganj, Pabna, Narsingdi, Kushtia, Rangpur, Chuadanga and elsewhere in the country are passing a heyday having flooded with orders.
Md Hannan Ali, a trader from Shahjatpur, Sirajganj, came to Gabtoli Cattle Market, the permanent cattle haat in the city on Sunday.
Talking to the FE recently, he said that an indigenous cow, weighing 90-100 kilogram, is selling at Tk 27,000 to 30,000 now, which was Tk18,000-20,000 three months back. Price of the Indian variety of same weight is Tk15,000, he said.
Mr Hannan sold twelve cows and oxen on the day and made a profit of Tk0.1 million.
Abdul Halim, a cattle farmer at Mirzar Char union under Raipura Upazila in Narsingdi, told the FE that they usually supply cow before Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha at higher prices by selling quality local cows.
The recent hike in cow prices has lured many of the cattle farms in his territory to return to farming, he said.
He said he has sold three oxen weighing 160-165 kg per animal at Tk 45,000 each recently to a meat trader at Keraniganj, the price is almost similar to that of Eid days," he said.
He said he made a Tk15,000 net profit from selling each animal.
"Four traders from Dhaka have contacted me so far for giving quality cows, but I have no capacity to deliver any cow in the next three months," he said.
Bangladesh Meat Traders Association secretary general Md Rabiul Alam admitted that price of beef surged to an all time high (Tk370-390 per kg) due to decline in import.
"But it is disgraceful for us to spend both human lives and money to bringing in Indian cows," he said.
He said both the government and the private sector will have to come forward to achieving animal meat autarky.
"We need additional 3.0-3.5 million cows annually. The country's farmers are ready to take on that challenge," said Mr Alam, who is also a cattle trader.
"The situation will be difficult for a short period, but a comprehensive programme can bring a sea change, which could benefit the country and the rural economy in the long run," farm economist and deputy managing director of PKSF Fazlul Kader said.
He said government should begin a progrmme to boost cattle production, which could begin from the next budget.
He said it may take less than five years for Bangladesh to be self-sufficient in cow and buffalo production.
Dr Jahangir Alam, associate professor of the department of animal production and management at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, said many areas in the country have emerged as cow-fattening zones like Narsingdi, Chuadanga, Kushtia, Pabna, Sirajganj.
Farm economist Golam Hafiz Kennedy said the government will have to take up a regular programme involving the ministries like fisheries and livestock and the agriculture ministry to boost cattle production.
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