ONLINE marketplaces for cattle ahead of Eid-ul-Azha have gained some traction in Bangladesh, but high prices are turning away the potential customers. For many, the joy of buying sacrificial animals in person or visiting the markets in groups is amiss online. Usually, people prefer to go to the markets together amid fanfare and buy sacrificial animals through long bargains but this year due to high contamination animal market may be a hotspot of infection. People are in dilemma in buying animals from the online marketplace for high prices and lack of properly check-up between goings to the animal market physically for high risk of infection.
As about one-fifth of all sacrificial animals in the country are sold in Dhaka during Eid-ul-Azha, traders have ratcheted up online advertisements to attract buyers. Mixed reactions surfaced on social media regarding the prices of sacrificial animals. However, E-COMMERCE companies said they have set the price tag at meager profits margins. Eight e-commerce companies have started selling animals in the recently launched Digital Haat, an initiative of Dhaka North City Corporation, ICT Division, E-Cab and Bangladesh Dairy Farm Association. The online marketplace has started registering cattle farmers and livestock traders from all across the country. Farmers and traders will be able to register for free. The website allows buyers to speak with sellers over the phone directly.
The government said this initiative aims to prevent the spread of the coronavirus by establishing online communication between buyers and sellers. Besides, traders or farmers are being encouraged to sell online through 11,000 digital centers across the country. Farmers have been asked to collect certificates from the Upazila Animal Resources Office so that buyers do not get cheated during online purchases. Buyers will be assured if sellers provide them with certificates. There are huge tasks to do ahead of Eid and also a good opportunity of sustainably float online marketplaces, but still there exist many obstacles and subject of monitoring, quality assurance, and avert cheating.
