According to livestock traders, drop in production of goats at home as well as reduction in supply from India, a key source, were the reasons behind price hike.[break]
Similarly, price of live goat has increased by around Rs 50 per kg to Rs 400 per kg.
Deepak Thapa, immediate past president of Nepal Livestock Traders Association, said reduction in supply from the India was the major reason behind rise in goat and mutton prices. “Price of goats has increased in India itself because of the ongoing wedding season in the southern neighbor,” added Thapa. “Earlier, we used to buy live goats at Rs 280-320 per kg. Now, we have to pay as much as Rs 390 per kg.”
Supply of goats from India has dropped to around 2,500-3,000 heads a week from around 5,000 heads recorded a month ago.
Livestock traders import goats from India twice a week - on Sundays and Thursdays.
As local production cannot meet the market demand, traders largely depend on India for goats. That means any changes in price in India directly affects price in the local market.
According to the association, around 95 percent of the demand for goats is met through imports (from India). Weekly demand for goats currently hovers around 3,500 heads, while supply stands at around 2,500. This mismatch in demand-supply situation is the reason behind price hike, according to Thapa.
The demand for goats normally increases during wedding season and major festivals, especially Dashain.
“We had hard time meeting demand for goats last month because of the wedding season,” Thapa said, adding: “If local production continues to decline at this rate, very soon we would have to depend solely on India for goats.”
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