Import of sacrificial animals not necessary in Ctg
The demand for sacrificial animals in Chittagong this Eid-ul-Azha could be met almost entirely with locally-reared livestock, according to district livestock office.
Even 30 percent of the district's demand could not be fulfilled with local livestock before, but over the past few years, the situation has changed and now around 90 percent of the demand can be met with local stock, said Dr Reajul Huq, district livestock officer in Chittagong.
“This became possible after farmers started rearing cattle in large scale [in the area] as they found it profitable,” he said, adding that this year's 15 percent supply deficit can be met with livestock from other districts.
Livestock reared in other districts including Pabna, Sirajganj, Rajshahi, Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari have already started to be brought in Chittagong, Dr Reajul said.
“Over the last seven days, more than one lakh cattle were brought to the district from various districts... So we don't need to import cattle from other countries to meet Chittagong's demand.”
According to the livestock office, the demand for sacrificial animals in Chittagong this year stands at 5,91,000 -- a 51,000 rise in the demand compared to that the year before. Out of the total number, the demand for cattle is 4,02,000 while 1,89,000 for goat and sheep.
A total of 5,01,972 sacrificial animals have been reared locally and the remainder -- around 89,000 -- would be met from animals brought from other districts.
Shaheda Akter, additional district livestock officer in Chittagong, said around 85 percent of the demand could be fulfilled with the local livestock.
“A good number of the cattle have been reared in 2,094 farms in the district... Moreover, a lot of people also reared cattle in their homestead in 14 upazilas [in Chittagong].”
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