Digital cattle markets catch on in Tangail as Eid supply overshoots demand

Traditional cattle markets remain active as farmers flag concerns over illegal imports, high feed prices and trading risks

Tangail has comfortably exceeded its local demand for sacrificial animals ahead of Eid ul-Azha.

But farmers and buyers are on edge over smuggled Indian cattle, excessive market tolls, counterfeit notes, extortion, and the threat of being drugged and robbed.

District Livestock Officer Md Helal Uddin Khan said 26,759 farms across the district's 12 Upazilas have readied 233,993 animals for sacrifice, including bulls, bullocks, cows, buffaloes, goats, and sheep.

Local demand stands at 195,178, leaving a surplus of 39,983.

Kalihati Upazila has 1,703 cattle and goat farms with 20,569 animals ready against a demand of 17,971, leaving a surplus of 2,598, Livestock Officer Abu Saim Al Salauddin said.

District Training Officer Md Shahidul Alam said farmers across the district had been trained in quality livestock production and had put that knowledge to work, driving up output.

Online Markets Gain Ground

More than 500 permanent and temporary livestock markets across the central district are buzzing ahead of Eid.

The historic Gobindashi cattle market in Bhuapur Upazila -- one of the largest in the country -- is drawing particular attention, alongside markets at Babystand in Tangail town and at Kortia, Rosulpur, and Torapganj on the outskirts.

Online livestock trading has taken off this year alongside the traditional markets.

The district livestock department and individual farmers are uploading photos, videos, weights, and prices on Facebook and digital platforms, letting buyers shop from home and easing congestion at the markets.

The surplus is expected to flow to Dhaka and other districts facing shortfalls, injecting hundreds of millions of taka into the rural economy.

Fear Over Indian Cattle, Feed Prices

Farmers' biggest fear is illegal Indian cattle crossing the border.

They warn that a flood of smuggled animals would crash the local market, pushing Tangail's 26,000-plus farmers into serious losses on their capital.

Soaring feed costs are piling on the pressure. With straw, bran, and oilcake prices climbing steeply, production costs have multiplied over months of rearing.

Rahman Agro Farm owner Dewan Sumon Ahmed of Chatubaria in Sadar Upazila’s Katuli Union said rising feed prices were demoralising. "We sold 38 bulls last Eid and plan to sell 34 this year -- but costs have gone up a lot because of feed prices.”

Farmer Tarek Ahmed Jony of Bhela Cattle Farm pointed to excessive toll collection, pickpockets, Molom Party (a robber gang known for using ointment to incapacitate victims), counterfeit note gangs, and extortion on the Jamuna Bridge-Tangail-Dhaka Highway as major headaches for farmers.

District Dairy Farm Association President Ashraf Ali said at least six coordinated steps are urgently needed to protect local farmers and safeguard the sector: digital surveillance and watchtowers, veterinary medical teams, tighter anti-smuggling measures, regulated toll collection, bank booths to counter counterfeit notes, and a coordinated crackdown on extortion at markets and on highways.

Sadar Upazila Livestock Officer Md Mehedi Hasan said marginal farmers were being given guidance and support, with free medical camps set up at livestock markets.

Livestock Officer said Helal Uddin Khan said veterinary teams had already been deployed at markets across the district, with all arrangements in place to ensure the safety of farmers, wholesalers, and retail buyers.