Sacrificial cattle haats gain momentum in Muradnagar

Despite the foul weather since Monday morning, the cattle haats in Muradnagar Upazila of the district have gained momentum.

A visit to the Bara Madrasa Haat in the Upazila Sadar on Monday showed that cows of different sizes are coming from different areas. Despite the high supply, sales were a bit low. Most of the buyers were seeing the cattle and checking the prices.

Farmers say that the cost of raising cattle has increased but the prices are not matching that. Despite the increase in the cost of raising cattle, their price has remained the same, according to the farmers.

Market people said that there is a high demand for small and medium-sized cattle between Tk 80,000 and Tk 1.4 lakh. Since the demand for large cattle is low, sales are also low. There is not much profit.

Abdul Baten of Hirar Kanda Village brought 8 cows to the haat and sold two. He said, “The cost of raising animals has increased. But the price does not match that. The price of fodder has increased by almost 50 percent compared to before. Despite the increase in cost, the price of cattle has not increased as expected.”

When talked, a few more buyers and sellers in the haat said, “Despite the adverse weather conditions, many animals have been brought, but there are few buyers. In addition, most of those who used to buy large cows in the past years aren’t coming due to the change in the political situation. The overall economic situation is also bad. Due to this, farmers are worried about large cows.”

It has been known from the Upazila Livestock Office that the demand for sacrificial animals in the upazila this year is 18,155. However, 19,049 animals are ready. Of which 14,269 are cows, 52 buffaloes, 3,963 goats and 765 sheep. Even after meeting the needs of the upazila, 894 animals will remain extra.