Cattle rearing hampered

Shortage of grazing fields is discouraging the farmers of Lalmonirhat to rear cattle though it is a profitable business for them.

Grazing fields are becoming rare in the district as the farmers do not want to keep their lands unused, district livestock officials said, adding that they, in rearing their cattle, fully depend on fodder purchased from the markets.

Cattle farmer Azim Uddin, 56, said he cannot provide fodder to his six cows as grazing fields are disappearing fast in his Hajiganj village under Aditmari upazila. "A few years back farmers used their lands as grazing fields," he added.

Akhter Hossain, 50, of Mahendranagar village under Lalmonirhat Sadar, said he had to sell five cows, out of eight, six months ago due to shortage of grazing fields in the village and spends Tk 90 to100 daily for purchasing fodder for three cows. He said due to shortage of grazing fields, income from cattle rearing has reduced as he gets only two and a half kgs of milk which he sells for Tk 50 per kg.

Farmer Noor Islam, 48, of Kulaghat village, said a few years back 50 percent of his lands remained idle but now he cultivates different crops, especially vegetables, round the year on the lands.

Farmer Mansur Ali, 55, of Khochabari village said 20 bighas of their lands remained unused due to dispute over ownership that are now being used as a grazing field.  The land would be used as grazing field until solution of the dispute, he added.

Landless cattle farmer Mashiur Rahman, 50, of Kakina village in Kaliganj upazila, said he earned expected profit from selling cattle five to six years back, but now the profit from cattle rearing is less as he has to spend a good amount of money for purchasing fodder.

Sources in the District Livestock Office (DLO) said three lakh farmers, including about 50 thousand landless farmers, rear about 14 lakh cattle in the district every year. The farmers are dependent on cattle rearing, the sources said.

Livestock officer Dr Joynal Abedin said the business is increasing day by day as farmers earned a good profit in spite of spending money for purchasing fodder.

Dr Joynal said the livestock officials always encourage the farmers to rear cattle despite shortage of grazing fields and impart training on caring for their cattle.