Livestock farmers and traders in Dhaka are selling cattle at lower prices to avoid heavy financial losses as continuous rain and adverse weather conditions hit city cattle markets.
Visitors’ turnout has dropped sharply, forcing many sellers to accept prices well below their expectations in an attempt to minimise losses ahead of Eid.
A visit on Wednesday to cattle markets in Gabtoli, Bosila, Badda, Maghbazar, Madhubagh, Wireless, Shahjahanpur, Rampura, Aftabnagar, Meradia, Shyampur and the 300-feet area of Purbachal showed muddy and waterlogged conditions. In many places, knee-deep mud and stagnant rainwater slowed down transport, care and trading activities.
Farmer Md Harun, who brought cattle from Panchagarh, said rain has made it difficult for the animals to sit properly and for buyers to inspect them.
“Buyers cannot walk properly through the mud. Sales have dropped, so we are forced to sell at lower prices,” he said.
Businessman Abdus Sobhan, who came from Kushtia, said transport costs and feeding expenses have already been high.
“If I fail to sell, returning the cattle will cost even more. So I am selling at a lower price,” he said.
At Gabtoli cattle market, trader Suroj Ali brought a medium-sized cow from Kushtia and initially asked Tk2.20 lakh. After failing to find a buyer throughout the day, he finally sold it for Tk1.80 lakh.
He claimed he suffered a loss of around Tk15,000 after accounting for transport, feed and labour costs.
“I could not get the expected price. Rain and low turnout caused the price drop,” he said.
From Sirajganj’s Enayetpur, trader Ismail Mia brought 10 cattle to the 300-feet Purbachal market. He said he sold eight cattle at low profit due to bad weather.
“There are enough cattle in the market but fewer buyers. Many traders are now facing losses,” he said.
Bosila market trader Abul Kashem said buyer turnout has remained low for the past two days due to rain.
“I asked for Tk2 lakh last week for a cow. Now I am selling it for Tk1.80 lakh,” he said, adding that he expects a loss of around Tk10,000 after expenses.
Badda market trader Rafiqul Islam said supply remains sufficient but buyers are waiting for further price drops, putting pressure on sellers.
At the Institute of Leather Technology field adjacent Hazaribagh cattle market, trader Md Jahangir said mud and waterlogging discourage buyers from staying long in the market.
As a result, he said, most deals close at lower prices.
At Sadeq Hossain Khoka field market in Sutrapur, trader Nur Islam said increased feeding and maintenance costs are forcing him to sell at reduced prices.
“In normal times, there is heavy crowd before Eid. This time rain has disrupted that. Keeping cattle longer will increase costs,” he said.
A market survey showed medium-sized cattle remain in highest demand. However, supply has exceeded demand, forcing sellers to accept lower prices.
Traders said cattle prices have dropped by 10 to 20 pe rcent over the past few days, especially for medium and large-sized animals.
Buyers said prices have started falling slightly in the afternoon due to rain, although small cattle are still being sold at relatively higher prices.
Traders also said local farmers expected better prices this year due to the absence of Indian cattle imports. However, the adverse weather has severely affected that expectation. They fear further losses if weather conditions do not improve before Eid.
