During Dashain, demand for mutton will pick up drastically compared to the other time. As a result, traders usually hike the price in the name of short supply.[break]
“We have started selling goats. As usual, our intervention is aimed at controlling unnatural rise in prices rather than fulfilling the total requirement,” said Indra Sitaula, acting deputy general manager of NFC.
NFC has planned to sell about 3,200 goats this Dashain. Last year, it had sold around 2,000 goats. “We are selling goats at a price which is lower compared to what private retailers and suppliers have been charging,” said Sitaula.
The corporation has purchased goats from farmers in Surkhet, Sarlahi, Bara, Bardiya, Nepalgunj and Dang districts. Around 1,200 goats have already reached the NFC´s godown in Thapathali, Sitaula told Republica.
Despite NFC intervention, mutton price in the capital had increased to Rs 650 per kg from Rs 600 per kg last Dashain. "But this year, we are trying our best not to let the price go up," said Sitaula, adding that NFC was spending around Rs 14.2 million to procure goats to fulfill its objective.
Last year, NFC had sold live goat at Rs 268 per kg for those weighing below 25 kg, and at Rs 276 per kg for live goats weighing above 25 kg. However, this year, it has set price for live goat weighing below 25 kg at Rs 304 per kg and Rs 314 per kg for goats above 25 kg.
The rise in price by the NFC clearly indicates that consumers this year would find the price of mutton at retail outlets being expensive than the last year.
“We could not keep the price at last year´s level because the cost of goats itself has increased in the market due to rise in prices of feeds. The transportation fare too has gone up," said Sitaula.
Nepal largely fulfills the meat requirement through imports from neighboring countries, particularly India. However, private suppliers complained that Indian middlemen, who broker the supply deals, have quoted higher prices for supply this season, citing similar reasons.
“We anticipate the people in the capital to buy a total of around 15,000 goats every day for four days between the 7th and 10th day of Dashain festival (which this year falls between October 21 to 24)," said Govinda Pathak president of Livestock Sales Committee. Otherwise, normal daily demand of goats in the capital stands between 5,000 and 7,000.
Goat traders expect to sale around 80,000 goats this Dashain, which is 20,000 more than last Dashain. “Apart from that, private traders are also planning to sell 15,000 sheep and mountain goats this festive season,” said Pathak.
Data of goats, pigs and buffaloes imported from India during Dashain festival is not available.
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