Livestock Market's Struggle During COVID Restrictions

Livestock sector of Bangladesh is facing serious implications as the COVID-19 epidemic created a negative impact not only for the health sector in the country but also on all aspects of living conditions. 

After the COVID 19 outbreak began in early March in Bangladesh, Government has put the country under virtual lockdown, restricting people's movement to curb the spread of the disease.

The lockdowns has reduced 90% of retailers' sales and 85% paravets and 74% farmer's incomes, a recent study on the country's livestock market found.

The phone call based study, funded by SDC and implemented by CARE, was conducted by project ''SHOMOSHTI'' in consultation with 72 entrepreneurs and 100 farmers of 7 districts of the country.with an objective to assess the COVID-19 impact to small and medium enterprise and livestock farmer's lives and livelihoods.

The study shows that around 50% of milk remains unsold all over the country and 45% milk sold at a reduced price, which estimates a loss worth of around tk 189 million per day all over the country.

Nearly one-third of respondents have no savings to recover from the crisis.

About 64% of retailers, 43% farmers and 39% paravet have loans from either Bank or MFI.

Half of the respondents reported that increased expenditure at the household level. Among them, 65% used their savings, 33% has reduced food intake, 21% took loans for managing households' expenditure. 

Study results also showed that about 61% of respondents perceived an increased workload of women at households.

About 28% of respondents indicated that they found an increasing trend of domestic violence in their community.

Major respondents (80%) asked for cash support and loans with easy terms and conditions.

Respondents (30%) also recommended free food supply for the poor to ensure staying at home during the lockdown.

In these circumstances, the study recommends that government and other agencies should be concentrated on multipurpose cash support for the COVID19 affected vulnerable groups so that they can buy their necessities from their local market for retrieving the local economy which will also create an equilibrium condition in the market.

On the other hand, local administration should increase their strict monitoring for the availability of daily necessities in the market and for controlling annoying situations in the market.

Dr. Md. Mizanur Rahman, Hassanuazzaman and Md. Shahab Uddin led the study from the project.