RASUWA, Sept 24: Nepal has imported only 55 sheep and mountain goats from the northern Rasuwagadhi border point this year. The import has dropped in comparison to the previous year as the price of livestock has gone up and the sheep and mountain goats are consumed in Tibet itself.
The import of sheep and mountain goats from Rasuwagadhi border point has been continuously dropping in the last three years.
Import of sheep and mountain goats starts through Tatopani
Traders have stated that the price hike on the livestock was the main reason for the continuous drop of import of sheep and mountain goats from Lhasa, Tibet of China.
“The sheep or mountain goat that cost Rs 13,000 last year has been priced at Rs 23,000 this year, which is why traders have not gone there to import the livestock,” said Kongkang Tamang, a local trader from Timure, Rasuwa.
“The price hike in Tibet along with a hike in the customs fee has deterred the traders,” he added.
Rasuwagadhi border point used to be the main point of import for sheep and mountain goats for Dashain festival, but this year traders have opted for Mustang instead.
Consumers are suffering as the price of sheep and mountain goats imported for Dashian festival has gone up.
In the year 2014 a total of 202 sheep and mountain goats were imported, while in 2015 and 2016, 180 and 250 sheep and mountain goats were imported from the Rasuwagadhi border point respectively. Before 2014, more than 5,000 to 10,000 sheep and mountain goats used to be imported through this border point to Nepal.
