By Md Mamun Islam
 
RANGPUR, May 18, 2025 (BSS) - Farmers in Rangpur division have produced 5.68 lakh surplus sacrificial animals this year against the demand of 14.12 lakh animals, which considered as a revolution in the animal husbandry sector in the region.
 
This has been possible due to the establishment of hundreds of cattle farms by the educated youths and ordinary farmers in all eight districts of the division on the path to self-reliance.
 
To make this initiative a success, the government has provided them with the necessary support to increase livestock production locally and achieve self-sufficiency in this sector.
 
Rangpur Divisional Livestock Directorate Director Dr Md Abdul Hye Sarkar told BSS that there has been a revolution in the livestock and dairy sector in the recent years, with an increase in cattle heads and milk production.
 
“Farmers and households have produced 19,80,390 sacrificial animals this time against the demand of 14,12,000 sacrificial animals in Rangpur division during the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha festivity,” he said.
 
"We have 5,68,000 additional sacrificial animals in Rangpur division, where farmers in all eight districts have produced additional sacrificial animals against the demand of the respective districts," he added.
 
Cattle farm owners and farmers in the mainland and char areas have produced bulls, cows, oxen, calves, buffaloes, goats, and some sheep, camels, and lambs as sacrificial animals ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha.
 
In Rangpur, farmers have prepared 3,63,312 sacrificial animals against the demand of 2,24,752 animals during Eid-ul-Adha. This time, there is a surplus of 1,38,560 animals in the district.
 
In Gaibandha, farmers have prepared 1,96,277 sacrificial animals against the demand of 1,26,305 with a surplus of 69,972 animals in the district.
 
In Kurigram, farmers have prepared 3,30,486 sacrificial animals against the demand of 2,22,840 with a surplus of 1,07,646 animals in the district.
 
In Nilphamari, farmers have prepared 2,89,157 sacrificial animals against the demand of 2,23,166 with a surplus of 65,9851 animals in the district.
 
In Lalmonirhat, farmers have prepared 2,62,631 sacrificial animals against the demand of 1,71,777 with a surplus of 90,854 animals in the district.
 
In Dinajpur, farmers have prepared 3,33,485 sacrificial animals against the demand of 2,63,646 with a surplus of 69,839 animals in the district.
 
In Thakurgaon, farmers have prepared 90,886 sacrificial animals against the demand of 75,361 with a surplus of 15,525 animals in the district.
 
In Panchagarh, farmers have prepared 1,14,156 sacrificial animals against the demand of 1,04,300 with a surplus of 9,856 animals in the district.
 
Dr Md Abdul Hye Sarkar said that various programs have been taken to increase production in the livestock and dairy sectors and necessary assistance has been provided to farmers over the years.
 
"The World Bank-supported Farmers Field School Program under the Livestock and Dairy Development Project has been playing a vital role in providing technical knowledge to farmers to increase production in the livestock and dairy sectors," he said.
 
Additionally, the production of goats and sheep has increased significantly in the last six years in Rangpur division due to the eradication of the highly contagious Indian viral disease Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), also known as sheep and goat plague.
 
“Farmers are now more educated about raising livestock themselves properly,” he said, adding that hundreds of farm owners and farmers have already achieved self-reliance in Rangpur division.
 
Like elsewhere in the country, the interim government has taken all necessary steps to ensure fair prices for sacrificial animals for farmers in this division ahead of the Eid-ul-Adha festival this year, he added.