Cattle farmers from different corners of the country have opted for social media platforms, in particular, Facebook, to market sacrificial animals for upcoming Eid-ul Azha since coronavirus shows no sign of respite.
Buyers also don’t need to hand-pick an animal since almost all sacrificial animals including bulls, cows, buffaloes, goats, and sheep are available online.
One of the cattle farmers, Akhter Hossen from Meherpur’s Gangni Upazila, posted photos of a bull on Facebook in a bid to find a potential buyer.
Cattle owners also said more or less they are getting response after going virtual.
Another cattle farmer from Tangail, Akbar Mia said that several boys of his village posted photos of his cattle on Facebook since he himself don’t know how to read and write.
“Some buyers have placed their prices, but I am expecting more,” said Akbar adding he would let the animals go once he gets a good price.
Sahfiqul Isalm, a cattle trader from Gazipur, told Bangladesh Post that unlike previous years, buyers are preferring virtual markets more than being present on a real market.
“I have uploaded the picture of 11 cows on Facebook in addition to making them available on the digital platforms run by the authorities concerned,” he said.
Online cattle markets
The Dhaka city corporation authorities have moved to initiate digital platforms for sacrificial animals on the occasion of the upcoming Eid.
The move came following a set of recommendations placed by the National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 with both city corporations cancelling tenders for 13 temporary cattle markets.
Sources at DNCC said, tenders of five temporary cattle markets have been canceled with decision on leasing another three markets is pending.
“No cattle markets will be allowed in populated areas or in the locality with a risk of spreading Covid-19,” DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam said.
On Saturday, the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) opened an online cattle market ‘Digitalhaat.net’.
The DNCC, the ICT Division, E-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (eCAB) and Bangladesh Dairy Farm Association (BDFA) will jointly operate the initiative.
The idea of launching a digital platform came amid the government’s concern over how people would maintain health guidelines while going to the cattle markets in person amid the virus outbreak, LGRD minister Tajul Islam said while inaugurating the platform.
"People can now buy and sell sacrificial animals on the digital platform,” he said.
On the services of the platform, Mayor Atiqul said buyers can also have their sacrificial animals’ meat processed by paying a charge.
The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) is also mulling similar initiatives, sources said.
The DSCC initially called tenders for 14 temporary cattle markets with the authorities finalizing the lease of three markets in the first phase.
State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak said, the initiatives were taken to save people involving in cattle trade amid the virus outbreak.
Referring to government-run ‘Food for Nation’, first agro-open marketplace in the country, Palak said the platform “is going to be the biggest digital haat for sacrificial animals.”
He urging the cattle farmers and traders to list their animals on it.
President of BDFA Shah Imran Hossain said they would work with upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) to help the marginalized farmers sell the cattle outside Dhaka.
"No tax on the sale of a sacrificial animal will be taken if the purchase us made on the digital platform,” he added.