Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, July 20 : With a few customers searching for the sacrificial animals, the traders are witnessing a decline in sales this Eid as the pandemic has severely hit the financial health of people in Kashmir.
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Although there has been some activity in the livestock markets this year because of fall in COVID cases, the traders said fewer customers are actually buying the animals as successive lockdowns have deteriorated the economic condition of the people.
“The economic condition of the people is bad due to COVID-19. Both traders and customers are unhappy. None is getting the desired deal,” Naik Mohammad, a trader from Rajasthan, told Excelsior.
“The economic impact of COVID has dampened the mood of both buyers and traders. I am selling animals for the last 14 years. I am going through the worst phase for the last three years. It is impossible for me to sell my animals at government rates. I rear these animals for 4-5 years with the hope to fetch good profit. I cannot earn anything on present rates,” Burhan Ahmad, a dealer from Ganderbal said, adding the prices offered did not even meet the costs of rearing.
The worst affected are the Gujjars and Bakarwals who rear the sacrificial animals throughout the year and earn their livelihood by selling them on Eid Ul Adha in Kashmir.
Mohammad Ali, who hails from the Rajouri area of Jammu is on a seasonal migration to Kashmir along with his flock and family. He, however, is finding it difficult to sell these animals which he had reared for the occasion. “I had reared around 100- sheep and goats for Eid this year, but could not sell them as people are not offering desired prices,” he said.
While the traders said the prices offered did not even meet the cost of rearing, customers blame them for overcharging. “I visited several dealers and did not find anyone adhering to the Government rates. They have their own rates,” Rafiq Ahmad, a local said.
Assistant Director Department of Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Mushtaq Ahmad told Excelsior that they are making sure the Government rates were followed. “We have received many complaints over the last week. We make sure that official rate list is followed,” he said. He too admitted that there was a slump in business.
President, Kashmir Wholesale Mutton Dealers Association, Mehraj Ud Din Ganaie, told Excelsior that the graph of sales has been on the decline for last three years. “The market is not stable. We have witnessed three consecutive lockdowns since 5th August. This has affected the whole business,” he said.
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