MANY traders who have failed to sell cattle before the Eid-ul-Azha are bearing the brunt of huge loss. This year, prices of cattle dropped due to a lack of customers against huge supply despite India’s ban on cow exports. So, the local cattle traders had borrowed heavily on high interests to buy cattle to make profits by selling those. But they had to spend extra money to take the unsold cattle back. Now they will have to keep the animals until normalcy returns in the market.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister has said India’s ban on cow export has led to a boom in cattle production in Bangladesh. Over 23.2 million cattle are slaughtered in Bangladesh every year – half of these during the Eid-ul-Azha. This year, the number of unsold cattle is more than one million. We don’t understand why government did not take any precautionary measures to save the small traders from such awkward situation when production of livestock has increased for many times.
Bangladeshi farmers always demand a stop to cow import from India to get fair price of locally bred cattle. So, they need long-term bank loan with soft interest. Despite bumper production of cattle meat, which is a prime source of protein for human body, the government’s negligence and casual approach to this flourishing sector is condemnable. We do congratulate our local farmers for achieving bumper production of cattle challenging so many odds.
Another thing — the seasonal traders have counted a huge loss this year as price of animal skin dropped at lowest level. A strong syndicate of big businessmen have allegedly played trick to go down the price. Commerce Minister on Sunday said they’ve talked to the tannery leaders and the tanners have agreed to buy the rawhide. It is another belated step of the ministry concerned.
We must say, the government should come forward with a long-term policy to protect and inspire both the flourishing meat and leather sectors which could earn a huge amount of foreign currency by exporting the products even after fulfilling the local demand.
