KHULNA, June 29, 2022 (BSS)-The demand of sacrificial animals in Khulna division for this Eid-ul-Azha could be met almost entirely with locally-reared livestock, official sources said here today.
Around 40 percent of the total demand could not be fulfilled with local livestock earlier but over the past few years, the situation has changed and now 100 percent of the demand can be met with local livestock, said Dr. Sukhendu Shekhor Gayen, Director of divisional Livestock office in Khulna.
“After meeting up the demand in the division this year, over 38 percent of local livestock will be surplus for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha,” he said.
“This became possible after the farmers started rearing cattle in large scale in 10 districts of the division as they found it is profitable,” he said.
“Before the last seven days of Eid-ul-Azha, huge sacrificial animals will be bought to the makeshift cattle markets of 10 districts and Khulna city… So we don’t have any need to import cattle from other countries to meet Khulna’s demand,” he added.
According to the Livestock Office, the demand for sacrificial animals in Khulna division this year is 8, 57,601, but farmers of the division reared 13,99,821 sacrificial animals targeting Eid-ul-Azha, 38 percent extra of the total demand.
This year cows have been reared 4, 02,553 while buffalos are 5,916, goat 9, 55,303, sheep 36,038 and other animals 11 in the division.
A total of 13, 99,821 sacrificial animals have been reared locally against demand 8, 57,601, that is 5, 42,220 extra in ten districts of the division.
Dr Shamsul Arefin, District Livestock Officer, Khulna, said 100 percent of the demand could be fulfilled with the local livestock this year.
“A good number of the cattle have been reared in 1, 08,227 farms in ten districts… Moreover, a lot of people also reared cattle in their homestead in the division,” he said.
A total of 154 makeshift cattle markets will be set up before Eid-ul-Azha while 120 medical teams will be ready at the cattle markets, he added.
