FLOOD-AFFECTED farmers in 28 districts of the country are compelled to sell their cattle at low prices due to acute fodder crisis, lack of places to keep the cattle and transportation problems. The fodder crises would affect the meat output and the number of sacrificial animals for the upcoming Eid. As most roads went underwater, farmers could not go to the market to bargain for a fair price of their livestock that enables middlemen in making a hefty profit. The middlemen are taking the flood as an opportunity, while flood-affected farmers are struggling to manage food for starving family members. When flood situation is improving water-borne diseases have all potential to spread, the district administrations are nonchalance to the people’s suffering due to lack of relief and aid from the government.
Some 11.18 million cattle heads are ready for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha against the demand for 10.50 million animals this year. The situation is all the same in the flood-affected districts, including Gaibandha, Kurigram and Lalmonirhat. Farmers said that fodders are very scarce and very expensive. Even if farmers want to buy it from other areas they could not do so as the flood had eroded many roads.
The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre on Monday said that major rivers in the country except for the Ganges might continue to recede until Wednesday morning. The flood situation in the country might continue to improve. Eight rivers were flowing above their danger marks at 11 points in eight districts on Monday morning. Since July 10, more than six million people were marooned in 28 districts in Bangladesh. The flood wreaked havoc washing away houses and bridges and culverts and damaging roads and embankments.
The response of the government, NGOs and other social organisations and well-off people to the flood-affected people is very low. The government must bolster the relief work for the flood-affected people by providing food, clothes, construction materials, fuels, fodder, seed, fertiliser, and soft agro credit. To revitalise life in the flood-hit areas, the government and local administration should play a vital role.
