Nepal is heavily dependent on the southern neighbor for goats due to insufficient production of goats in the country. [break]
"Supplies of goats to the capital has dropped by almost 30-40 percent as compared to the supply volume recorded a couple of weeks before due to decline in goat imports from India," said Giriraj Basnet, secretary of Cattle Exchange Service Association, an association of goat traders, said.
Basnet informed that the number of goats entering the capital has decreased to 6,000-7,000 heads per weeks from 10,000 heads recorded a few weeks before. He said around 20 truckloads of goats are entering the capital from India, down from 30 truckloads recording during normal days.
Indian city of Lucknow is the major source of goats for Nepali market. Despite the decline in supplies from India, traders say the supply of local goats have increased for the last few weeks.
"Market hasn´t seen the shortage of goats despite decline in supplies from India. Increase in supply of local goats has been making for the decline in supplies from India," Basnet said. He further added that over 40 percent of the total demand for goat is being fulfilled by local goats.
Traders say they bring locals goats mainly from places like Lahan, Dang, Surkhet, Bardiya, Katari, Dhading, Nuwakot and Dolakha. On normal days, supplies from India used to contribute over 80 percent of total goat demands in the capital.
Despite decline in supplies, traders say prices of mutton products have remained unchanged in the market as the demand comparatively goes down during summer.
Mutton is selling for Rs 500 per kg in the market. Live goats from India and domestic market have been priced at Rs 275 and Rs 235 per kg respectively.
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