Dairy farmers want extortion free farmers’ markets in Dhaka

Vegetables on sale in Dhaka City

Jehangir Hussain

Cattle farmer Md Rahim Mia of Rangpur, buys cows from local market to sell them at Gabtoli Cattle Market in the capital every year usually for Qurbani Eid.

Before the last Qurbani Eid, he had to pay around Tk1.5 per truck to extortionists at various points on way to the Gabtoli Cattle Market.

Narrating his experience of coming to Gabtoli Haat before the last  Eid-ul Azha, Rahim said, “I brought some cows to Dhaka to after taking loan at high interest, but, I had to pay a lot of money to grease the palms of extortionists at different places on way to Gabtoli. After crossing Gabtoli Bridge, I had to pay around Tk1.50 lakh for the truck carrying the cows. It’s too much for a farmer. It should be stopped.”

This was a story common for thousands of farmers and retail traders at Gabtoli Haat.

In view of such sufferings, Bangladesh Dairy Farmers Association (BDFA) wants to establish ‘Farmers’ Markets’ at different regions to stop recurrence of extortions and to make beef, meat and other dairy products available to consumers  at affordable prices.

To implement the initiative, the dairy farmers association demanded separate market places or shops at different places in Dhaka.

The association also demanded support from the two city corporations as well as the government to materialise the idea.

Once the markets are established, the farmers will be able to sell to consumers beef, meat, milk, cheese, ghee and curd and other dairy products at affordable prices.

The consumers will be able to buy safe dairy products.

And it would free the buyers and sellers of dairy products from the extortionists and middlemen.

Dairy farm leaders said that they have begun discussions with the city corporations about the proposal of establishing ‘Farmers’ Markets’ as they exists in the  European Union,  the United States and other developed countries.

According to official statistics, some 1.22 crore sacrificial animals, including 55 lakh cows, were ready before the last Eid-ul-Azha compared to potential demand of 98 lakh animals.

In 2021, out of 46 lakh cows available for sale for sacrifice, 38 lakhs were sold. In 2020, out of  55 lakh cows available for sale, 46 lak was sold.

According to the statistics of the dairy farmers’ association, at least eight to nine lakh cows remained unsold in last two years.

There should be some mechanism to sell these cattle after Eid, and Farmers’ Market’ alone could facilitate selling these cattle at a reasonable prices to  the consumers.

BDFA statistics shows that there are around 17 lakh dairy farms across the country.

Farmer’s said that the lessees of the cattle markets usually extort the farmers.

And most of the lessees don’t give receipts for the extra money they take from the cattle farmers.

However, the meat traders usually try to pay less and  cover up losses by selling hides. But, as the hide price is too less in the country, they need to find other ways to cover up. Some meat traders sell live animals to customers instead of selling meat to cover up losses.

Under the joint initiative of Bangladesh Dairy Farmers Association and the Department of Livestock Services (DLS), meat, beef, dressed chicken meat, milk and eggs are sold at ‘cheaper prices’ at various places in the capital during Ramadan.

At these sales centres, beef is sold at Tk 640 per kg against the market price of Tk 750 per kg, mutton at Tk940 per kg against its market price of Tk1,100, dressed broiler chicken at Tk340 per kg, milk at Tk80 per litre against its market price of Tk90 and eggs at Tk10 per piece against its market price of Tk12.

In 2022, beef was sold at Tk550 per kg, mutton  t at Tk800, dressed broiler at Tk200 per kg, milk at Tk60 per litre and four pieces of eggs at Tk30 (per piece Tk7.50).

According to the statement of BDFA till 24th Ramadan, a total of 45 tonnes of beef, three tonnes of mutton, 9.60 lakh pieces of eggs, 30 tons of dressed broiler chicken and 5,000 litres of milk were sold at these centres.

Bangladesh Dairy Farmers Association President Imran Hossain told the Daily Observer “Farmers’ Markets are there in the European Union and other developed countries.

The farmers or growers directly supply their products to the farmers market. “We, the farmers in Bangladesh, will also supply cows and goats directly to the farmers market and sell beef, mutton, chicken, eggs and milk to consumers there.”

Imran said, “Not only mutton, beef, milk, cheese, curd, ghee but other dairy products could be sold at  farmers market.”

Dhaka North City Corporation Chief Executive Officer Salim Reza told the Daily Observer, “We welcome and will always support such initiative.”

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