Long wait: Slow sales frustrate cattle traders

Frequent rains, fear of Congo virus keeping ‘serious’ buyers away

LAHORE: Sales of sacrificial animals for Eid have yet to pick up. The traders complain about scarcity of ‘genuine buyers’ at cattle markets established in the provincial capital.

Talking to The Express Tribune, cattle trader Muhammad Sarwar said frequent rains and fear of Congo virus were keeping serious buyers away.

“Some people scouting the market come out in the evening but dash our hopes when they refuse to buy anything,” he said. “There are only a few weeks left before Eid but sales of animals have not gained momentum.”

Farooq Baloch, a cattle breeder from Muzaffargarh, said he brought 40 goats in provincial capital last Friday. “I could only sell six of them,” he said. “I hope I am able to sell my entire stock before Eid,” he said.

Baloch said, “Congo virus is just a rumour. Hundreds of cattle breeders and traders have spent days and nights with animals. None of them was infected. Urban populations are staying away from cattle markets because they fear Congo virus. They should be assured that there is no such danger,” he said.

Salman Farooq, a shopper who was negotiating with a cattle trader near Raiwind Road cattle market, said he was just checking the prices and would likely buy sacrificial animals a few days before Eid.

“An average sized goat is selling between Rs30,000 and Rs35,000, which is reasonable,” he said. “I hope the prices fall as Eid draws near.”

Muhammad Afzal, a citizen, said his family would buy their sacrificial animal with the members of their neighbourhood mosque.

“Congo virus is a serious threat. We prefer to pool in for a share in a large animal,” he said.

The city district government and the Livestock Department have established seven check posts near city entrances for inspection of sacrificial animals.

A CDGL spokesman said government had fumigated over 92,000 sacrificial animals at these check posts.

“We are also running an awareness campaign and educating citizens about prevention measures,” he said.

The district government has notified sale points in all nine towns of the provincial capital. These points include Bakkar Mandi and Shahupur Kanjran in Allama Iqbal Town, Bismillah Housing Society, GT Road in Wahgah Town, LDA Avenue 1, Raiwind Road in Nishtar Town, Banker Society near Kamahan Interchange in Gulberg Town and Bilal Town near Saggian Bridge in Data Town and Ravi Town.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2016.