Massive rise in price of goats

Massive rise in price of goats Archit Watts/TNS

Jammu, November 4
The skyrocketing prices of sacrificial goats have dampened the excitement of Eid-ul-Azha (Bakr Eid), which will be celebrated on November 7. Just three days are left for Eid, and there is little activity in the markets where goats are sold.

An average healthy goat, which was available between Rs 4,000 and Rs 7,000 last year, now comes for Rs 15,000- Rs 25,000. As a result, neither the buyers nor the sellers are showing much enthusiasm to purchase the livestock.

Nazir Ahmed, a meat seller outside the Jama Masjid in the Talab Khatikan area, said: “Last year, we got good business. But, this year the prices of goats have been touching the sky, which have dampened the excitement of Bakr Eid.”

“Normally, a week before Eid, goat sellers from various places gather outside the mosque in this area, but this year no one has arrived as yet,” added Nazir.

Besides the prices of meat, the cost of other goods have also gone up. Aslam Khan, owner of Qasmi Kutubkhana that offers religious items for sale, said: “As the prices of all essential commodities have been shot up, people are not interested in doing much shopping. Inflation has drastically affected our business this year.”

Mohammad Asif, a local resident who had come to buy a goat, said, “The prices are too high. Now, I will have to go to a rural area where the prices will be cheaper as compared to the urban areas.”

He demanded that officials in the Sheep and Animal Husbandry Department should immediately intervene or take some steps so that the prices could be controlled and goats could be bought for Eid without pinching the pocket.