Soaring animal prices keep buyers at bay

Traders complain sale of sacrificial animals not picking up

RAHIM YAR KHAN: Prices of all sacrificial animals have skyrocketed in the city as Eidul Azha nears, keeping buyers at bay.

A survey of makeshift sacrificial markets in and around Rahim Yar Khan by Express News indicated that the prices of animals have almost doubled in comparison with prices normally. Livestock farmers and sacrificial animal vendors blame transport costs and swelling input costs for such an increase in animal prices.



Several traders complained that sales of sacrificial animals are not picking up despite the fact that Eidul Azha is around the corner. “There is hardly any genuine buyer in sacrificial animal markets,” an animal vendor told Express News.

Most of the markets are flooded with windowshoppers who are finding it hard to buy animals because of soaring rates. People can be seen visiting different markets at Shahi Road, Sultan Pur, Sukkur Ada, Sanghi, Sadiq Branch Pul etc. Traders have also started roaming the streets with their animals in order to attract buyers.

“I have only sold a few goats in the market as buyers mostly come here  to gain an idea about the prices and then return emptyhanded,” Kaleem Khan, a cattle trader said.

He said that the high cost of fodder, the transportation fee and high cost of displaying animals at cattle markets are contributing to an increase in prices on the occasion of Eidul Azha. However, most traders hoped that sales will gain momentum in the coming days as the religious festival approaches and buyers start visiting the markets.

During the survey of makeshift cattle markets, it was observed that most buyers were interested in purchasing cows instead of goats and sheep in order to become a shareholder in big animals by performing collective ‘Qurbani’(sacrifice) keeping in view the high prices of small animals.

“The prices of sacrificial animals are sky high this year in Rahim Yar Khan as compared to last year and are beyond the purchasing power of middle, salaried and low income groups.,” Nadeem Afzal, a disgruntled buyer said. “I am thinking of buying a buffalo during the last days of Eid with the hope that prices may go down,” he added.



Meanwhile, people have demanded the district administration keep a close check on the prices of sacrificial animals and award strict punishment to profiteers as regulating and maintaining a check on prices is the prime responsibility of deputy commissioners.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13^th, 2018.