KARACHI: The arrival of goats, cows, buffalos and camels from upcountry at various cattle markets established in the city remained less this year than 2017. As a result, traders are demanding high prices from customers for sacrificial animals.

So far, around 200,000 cows, buffalos, goats, sheep and camels have been brought to the cattle market off Superhighway for Eid which is going to fall on Wednesday. The number is much lower than the last year’s figure of 250,000 to 300,000.

The cattle market’s administrator, Tahir Memon, told Dawn that many buyers preferred to purchase animals from illegal markets, set up on roadsides in various areas of the city, instead of going to the main market off Superhighway.

Giving another reason for the low animal arrival at the Superhighway mandi, he said many traders were expecting rains to occur, which had played havoc last year, therefore, they procured animals from upcountry for sale at illegal makeshift places and on roadsides besides operating from their houses.

The illegal markets have caused environmental pollution and traffic snarl-ups

“This year, roadside markets have seen mushroom growth [compared to] last year,” he said adding that the local administration had also authorised some three to five more markets in various areas of the city.

“The makeshift and informal sale points of animals are not only causing environmental pollution but they are also turning roads dirtier and causing traffic jams.

“The main benefit of the Superhighway market is to control pollution. The market will lose its charm if more unauthorised sale spots continue to emerge in coming years,” Mr Memon added.

He was of the view that more than 1,000 roadside makeshift stalls were operating in the city along with several other small mandis.

“Low arrival of animals at the Superhighway mandi does not mean that people will slaughter lesser animals this year. Various mandis and roadside sale points will cater to the requirement.

“The people of Karachi are expected to slaughter over 400,000 animals this year in which the share of Superhighway mandi has reduced,” the cattle market administrator said.

Prices up

About the prices of animals, he said they were going up almost 15-20 per cent every year.

A random market survey suggested that the traders were charging Rs30,000-35,000 for a medium-sized goat and were not bringing the prices below Rs25,000-30,000 despite heavy bargaining. A goat of the same size was available for Rs17,000-20,000 last year.

The traders were also seen demanding Rs45,000 for a bigger goat and selling it for Rs35,000-37,000 after negotiations. The bigger goats were sold at Rs30,000-32,000 in 2017.

It was noticed that the roadside sellers were also demanding more or less the same prices.

Some people who regularly purchase sacrificial animals said they had to compromise on the weight of animals and had to pay Rs5,000-15,000 extra this year compared to 2017.

Traders said they were burdened with rising local taxes and heavy expenditures incurring on maintaining the camps at the mandi.

They claimed that arrival of trucks carrying animals were at least 40-50pc down than last year.

“The demand is high but the Superhighway market is not fulfilling it,” they added.

The real number of animals slaughtered in the city will be more visible after Eid when their hides will be collected.

Dairy and Cattle Farmers Association’s president Shakir Gujjar said cow and buffalo owners were confused whether they should bring their animals to the main market in view of the rains they had experienced last year.

“Arrival of animals from Sindh and Punjab areas has plunged by at least 30pc,” he claimed.

Citing another reason for low arrival of animals, he said cattle farmers had curtailed the number of calf and small cows and buffalos for breeding.

“I have put only nine big VIP cows and buffalos on sale this year as compared to 40 last year,” he claimed.

Mr Gujjar said people started purchasing animals late as they were expecting prices to fall in case of rains.

A cattle trader at Bhains Colony, Akbar Ali Jutt from Jahania, Punjab, said transportation of animals from Punjab and Sindh had fallen by 40pc compared to last year because of the fear of rains and financial losses.

This year, the city has witnessed a major change as many people can be seen selling cows and buffalos at roadsides in various areas.

Like previous years, the city administration has paid no attention towards illegal sale points of animals. Consumers believe they are paying high prices of animals due to inefficiency of the city administration in checking the surging prices of beef and mutton.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2018