In an effort to alleviate the burden of high food prices on commoners, the Bangladesh Dairy Farmers’ Association (BDFA) has announced a significant reduction in beef prices in Dhaka. Starting today, dairy farmers will be selling beef at a price of Tk50 lower than the prevailing market rate per kilogram, offering more affordable options for consumers.
The decision came after a workshop organized at the National Press Club in collaboration with the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, where stakeholders discussed measures to lower beef prices. Speaking on behalf of the association, President Md Imran Hossain stated, “We want to reduce the price of beef for consumers. Starting from tomorrow (Monday), our farmers will sell beef at a price of Tk50 less than the prevailing market rate.”
It’s worth noting that dairy farmers primarily sell a substantial portion of beef online, where prices can range even higher, from Tk800 to Tk850 per kilogram. However, the reduced price set by the association is expected to have an indirect impact on retail prices in traditional markets across Dhaka.
President Imran Hossain presented a comprehensive plan outlining seven steps, categorized as short-term, medium-term, and long-term, that can potentially bring the price of beef down to Tk500-550 per kilogram.
One of the immediate steps focuses on breed development for cost-efficient meat production, which could result in a 20%-25% reduction in beef prices. Indigenous breeds such as Red Chittagong Cattle, North Bengal, Gray, and Sahiwal typically yield 120-150 kg of meat from a two-year-old cow, whereas meat breeds like Brahman can produce 250-300 kg of meat at the same age, thereby reducing production costs.
Addressing the issue of expensive feed imports for cattle, the plan suggests cultivating improved grass and making silage locally to minimize dependency on costly imports and further decrease meat prices.
To reduce the cost of cattle fodder, the proposal emphasizes utilizing by-products of crops such as rice straw, maize stalks, branches of various trees, and banana plants, providing farmers with a low-cost alternative to grain feed.
Another significant aspect of the plan involves selling cattle hides at fair prices. Currently, rawhide worth Tk4,000-5,000 is being sold for only Tk300-400, but ensuring fair prices could lead to a Tk30-40 reduction in beef prices per kilogram. The surplus leather, not used domestically, could also be exported to contribute to lowering beef prices.
Market prices for beef have also been identified as a significant factor affecting overall prices. To address this, the plan recommends reducing the toll rates at cattle markets, which have risen from a fixed amount to a percentage-based system, consequently raising costs for farmers.
Developing the beef processing sector to tap into the global meat by-products market is another vital component of the strategy.
AHM Shafikuzzaman, director general of the consumer rights protection directorate, emphasized the need for a balanced approach to both milk and meat production. He stressed the importance of conducting a comprehensive review of short, medium, and long-term measures to reduce meat prices at the consumer level.
Following the review, relevant recommendations will be presented to the concerned ministries and government departments. The BDFA remains committed to working towards sustainable solutions that benefit both consumers and dairy farmers alike.
