Women lead expansion of cattle farming

Mahmuda Begum Shukta began a small cattle farm at her village home in Borogangdia under Daulatpur Upazila of Kushtia district with the dream of earning additional income and becoming financially independent.

Every year, she buys at least three calves, raises them carefully throughout the year and sells them during Eid-ul-Azha to earn a profit.

Over the years, the venture has become a reliable source of income for her family.

Speaking to The New Nation, Shukta said she manages the earnings from her cattle farm independently and does not hand the money over to her husband, as she hopes to establish a large-scale livestock farm in the future.

Like Shukta, thousands of women across Bangladesh are now playing an important role in the rapid expansion of the livestock sector, which is contributing significantly to the national economy while helping meet the country’s growing demand for meat and nutrition.

Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock announced that around 12.33 million sacrificial animals are available across the country, comfortably exceeding the estimated demand of 10.10 million.

Officials believe the surplus has largely been made possible due to the expansion of small and medium-sized farms nationwide, many of which are operated or supported by women entrepreneurs.

In Kushtia district alone, there are nearly 19,000 small and medium cattle farms, including around 4,500 in Kushtia Sadar Upazila. Daulatpur and Kumarkhali upazilas account for around 4,300 and 4,100 farms respectively.

According to livestock officials, nearly 200,000 cattle have been prepared in Kushtia for Eid-ul-Azha this year, with surplus animals expected to be transported to Dhaka and other districts for sale.

Shukta said greater recognition and support are needed for women cattle entrepreneurs to ensure their empowerment through the livestock sector.

Similar trends are also visible in other districts as farmers prepare for the Eid market.

In Moulvibazar district, the demand for sacrificial animals stands at 71,772, while farmers have prepared 74,584 animals, creating a surplus of 2,812.

According to the District Livestock Office, cattle, buffaloes, goats and sheep are being raised across Sreemangal, Kamalganj, Barlekha, Kulaura, Juri, Rajnagar and Moulvibazar Sadar upazilas.

Livestock officials in Kulaura said the upazila alone has prepared 14,964 animals against a demand of 13,865. Barlekha has prepared 12,239 animals against a demand of 12,228, while Sreemangal has prepared 10,494 animals against a demand of 8,373.

Arifa Khatun from Joychandi Union in Kulaura said, “We have prepared 11 bulls for this year’s Eid-ul-Azha. But the sharp rise in feed prices may cause heavy losses.”

In Ishwardi Upazila of Pabna district, livestock farmers have already started selling sacrificial animals in local markets.

Farmers said they rear cattle and goats throughout the year in the hope of receiving fair prices during Eid-ul-Azha.

Local residents noted that commercial livestock farming in Ishwardi expanded significantly after cattle imports from neighbouring India were halted in 2014.

This year, around 3,055 farmers in Ishwardi have prepared nearly 74,000 animals against a local demand of around 43,000.

More than a hundred livestock farms have also developed around the Arankhola cattle market, one of the largest cattle markets in the northern region.

Farmers there rear several breeds, including Sahiwal, Gir, Haryana, Friesian, Jersey and Rakhi Sahiwala cattle.

Monia Parvin, a dairy farmer from Arankhola village, said, “We prepare around 15 to 20 cattle every year for Eid-ul-Azha.”

Dr Md Faruk Hossain of the Upazila Livestock Office and Veterinary Hospital said many educated young people are now joining livestock farming as a means of self-employment and financial stability.

Despite the sector’s continued growth, farmers remain concerned about profitability because of the steady rise in livestock feed prices.