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NOTES FROM DINAJPUR

From Our Correspondent
DINAJPUR June 16 : Acute shortage of bullocks in greater Dinajpur district is posing a great problem to seasonal cultivation.
It is learnt that 50 per cent farmers of the district carry on agricultural work on share basis due to shortage of bullocks.
The shortage Is being gradually Intensified due to slaughter of at least 400 bullocks per week in different hats and bazars of the district.
According to an estimate. 125 bullocks in Thakurgaon. 115 in Panchagarh and 265 bullocks in Dinajpur district are slaughtered every week.
On the other hand about 80 thousand bullocks were slaughtered in these districts during the Liberation War.
According to sources, an area of about 26 lakh acres of land is under cultivation in these three districts. About two lakh pairs of bullocks are necessary to till this vast area. But there are only 1,12.000 pairs of bullocks In this districts which Is insufficient to fulfil the purpose.
On the other hand, slaughtering of the bullocks increased to a great extent because of fish shortage in the markets of these districts.
It is reported that the agricultural department has failed to supply tractors and other agricultural equipment to the peasants in these districts. Besides, farmers are unable to purchase bullocks from the market because of high price.
Fodder scarcity
Cultivators in these districts arc selling out their cows and bullocks for want of fodder for the last few years. If this shortage continues indefinitely, cultivation will eventually be hampered.
About 40 per cent crops and grass tn these three districts were damaged by flood and drought and about 20 per cent crops and grass were damaged by the flood in 1988 and 1989.
A section of cow dealers is taking advantage of this situation who is buying hundreds of cows and bullocks from the cultivators at low price.
Large number of such able-bodied cows and bullocks is supplied to the markets regularly by the dealers of different districts and some traders are dong windfall profit.
Cattle disease
About 5,000 cattlehcads die of various diseases every year in these three districts. This also contributes to the shortage of bullocks.
About 4,000 cattlehcads died of different diseases in the districts during the last six months and a good number have been suffering from vari
The cultivators alleged that they always return from the local Veterinary Hospitals without getting any medicine.