With Eid-ul-Azha approaching, cattle farmers across Char Fasson upazila in Bhola are working tirelessly to fatten livestock using traditional, chemical-free methods. Hoping for strong market returns during the sacrificial festival, thousands of farmers are preparing bulls with natural feed including green grass, wheat bran, oil cake, rice husk, and lentil husk—eschewing harmful steroids and additives.
Supporting this effort is a local NGO-backed initiative, the Rural Microenterprise Transformation Project (RMTP), which has partnered with 63 farmers in 21 unions. These participants are currently raising 510 bulls with financial aid and technical guidance. Inspired by the initiative, over 9,500 other farmers across the upazila have joined in, collectively rearing an estimated 20,591 cattle—more than enough to meet local demand.
Breeds being raised include Sindhi, Pakistani, Australian, and native varieties. During recent visits to farms in Mujibnagar, Nilkomol, and South Char Aichatan, 3–4 workers were seen at each farm, dedicated to daily feeding and care.
Char Fasson’s Upazila Administration has approved 60 cattle markets—both permanent and temporary—to facilitate smooth sales. To ensure ethical animal husbandry, seven veterinary teams have been deployed to monitor both farms and markets.
Maksud, a farm worker in Abdullahpur, said, “Demand is high this year, but so are feed prices. It costs around Tk 200 daily to feed one animal. Our bulls range from Tk 80,000 to Tk 2 lakh. We’re hoping to recover after last year’s losses, but nothing is certain.”
Farmer Israt Jahan Nipa shared that her herd of 40 cows has already been mostly sold. “I’ve got five left and plan to sell three bulls at around Tk 50,000 each before Eid,” she said.
While sellers are optimistic, buyers like Jewel and Md. Jamal voiced frustration over higher prices, claiming some sellers are asking double or triple what they did last year. Vendors like Md. Nazrul defended the increase, citing surging feed costs as the primary reason.
Assistant Livestock Officer Dr. Raj Ali confirmed that the government is actively supporting farmers under the RMTP initiative. “Our focus is on safe, organic fattening. Harmful chemicals are largely a thing of the past, but our veterinary teams continue to monitor to ensure compliance,” he said.
As cattle trading intensifies ahead of Eid, Char Fasson’s farmers remain hopeful—but cautiously so—in a season shaped by rising costs, increased awareness, and stronger regulatory oversight.
