SANGAM PRASAIN
State-owned Nepal Food Corporation, which has been assigned to supply goats during the Dashain festival, has hiked the price of live goats in the Kathmandu Valley by Rs. 16 to Rs. 28 per kg.
An NFC official said that live goats weighing up to 20 kg have been priced at Rs. 256 per kg while goats weighing from 20-25 kg have been priced at Rs. 270 per kg. Animals weighing more than 25 kg cost Rs. 278 per kg.
Last year, the prices set by NFC were Rs. 240, Rs. 245 and Rs. 250 per kg respectively.
Private traders have increased the price of live goats marginally to Rs. 270 per kg. Traders said that prices had remained relatively constant because of adequate supply from India.
“There will be no scarcity of goats this year. In fact, supply will exceed demand,” said Deepak Thapa, president of the Nepal Livestock Traders Association.
Last Dashain, reports about unhealthy goats being imported from India, inadequate local supply and NFC’s inability to provide sufficient goats had sent prices soaring, traders said. NFC has attributed its price hike to transportation costs and increased buying prices. The corporation aims to sell 4,000 goats during the festive season and has so far procured 3,850 goats from Bardia, Nepalgunj, Dang, Hetauda, Lahan and Kavre. Last year, NFC had planned to procure 6,000 goats, but only 2,777 were available.
“The price of NFC’s goats is lower than what is being charged by private traders as we are a government entity, and we are providing goats at subsidized rates for the benefit of consumers,” said deputy general manager Bijaya Dhwaj Thapa.
According to the Nepal Livestock Traders Association, 20 trucks carrying 250 goats each arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday. Likewise, about 10,000 sheep have reached the market in the last two days. “We have targeted selling over 45,000 goats this Dashain,” Thapa added.
Consumers are concerned that prices might increase as the festival progresses. Last year, the price of live goats rose from Rs. 260 per kg on Ghatasthapana to Rs. 275 per kg by Phulpati as there was a huge rush of customers.
Large numbers of goats are slaughtered to appease goddess Durga during Dashain.
NFC said that their daily sales amounted to more than 375 goats. Private traders report selling more than 600 to 700 goats each day. “Although sales have been slow, we expected them to pick up significantly on Monday and Tuesday, they said.
According to government statistics, Nepal imports meat worth Rs. 15 billion annually, making it one of the largest imports after petroleum, gold and motor vehicles.
The annual consumption of meat in the country amounts to 248,573 tons, said the Ministry of Agriculture. Buffalo meat is consumed in the highest quantity (65 percent) followed by goats and other livestock (20 percent) and pork (7 percent).
