Inside the largest buffalo "exchange" in the Northwest region

The buffalo market in Bac Ha town (Bac Ha district, Lao Cai province) has long been the "Bac Ha buffalo trading floor" market on weekends in the white highlands of Lao Cai province.

Inside the largest buffalo "exchange" in the Northwest region

Saturday, November 23, 2024 18:42 PM (GMT+7)

The buffalo market in Bac Ha town (Bac Ha district, Lao Cai province) has long been the "Bac Ha buffalo trading floor" market on weekends in the white highlands of Lao Cai province.

The buffalo market in Bac Ha town, Bac Ha district (Lao Cai) became bustling and lively when hundreds of buffaloes and cows were transported by local people and traders for buying and selling.

In the early days of winter, along with the blooming plum and peach blossoms, Mong boys and girls flock to the market, leading their big, strong buffaloes, creating a colorful picture.

Large, strong male buffaloes are raised by people in the highland communes of Bac Ha district for 5-6 years before being brought to the market to sell to traders.

Mrs. Giang Thi Sau, Ban Pho commune, Bac Ha district, Lao Cai province shared: I woke up very early to walk the buffalo from home to the market with the hope of selling the buffalo to earn more income. My family has raised the male buffalo for about 5 years now. Today, my family sold this buffalo for 26.5 million VND, the current price of buffalo is much lower than before. If before, my family's buffalo had to be sold to earn up to 50 million VND.

2 male buffaloes at the market were sold by local people to traders for only 26-27 million VND.

The buffaloes are marked after being quarantined to ensure safety in disease prevention and control before being loaded onto trucks.

From dawn, when the landscape is still covered in white mist, Bac Ha market is already bustling and crowded. The market is held every Friday morning in the market area of ​​Bac Ha town, Bac Ha district (Lao Cai).

Each market session has hundreds of buffaloes, cows, and horses of the Mong, Nung, and Dao ethnic groups... from localities inside and outside the district coming here to trade.

In addition to serving production, buffaloes also become a commodity providing food with high economic value. Therefore, depending on weight and health, each buffalo will have a different selling price.

Trucks carrying livestock line up in the market. The cattle are tied up in rows for traders to choose from.

The ferocious bulls are trying to gore each other at the market, attracting many people to watch.

Mr. Tan Du Nha from Gia Phu commune, Bao Thang district (Lao Cai) said: Because the road was long, I brought my family's 6 buffaloes to the market very early, before dawn. I sold 4 buffaloes, earning about 80 million VND.

According to many long-time buffalo traders in the highlands of Bac Ha district (Lao Cai), since the Covid-19 pandemic, the price of buffalo and cows has suddenly dropped sharply, estimated to have decreased by about 40-50% compared to before.

Due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, the number of buffaloes and cows at Bac Ha market has also decreased significantly compared to before. The number of traders from outside the province has also decreased significantly, which has significantly affected the trading activities of the people here.

Over time, Bac Ha buffalo market still retains the wild and pure features of a highland market. This is not only a place for people to trade to earn more income but also a place for people to exchange and learn about livestock raising experiences.

Spring

Source: https://danviet.vn/ben-trong-san-giao-dich-trau-lon-nhat-vung-tay-bac-20241122195307491.htm