High prices of sacrificial animal: cattle markets fail to attract buyers in Peshawar

While the Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest Muslim Festival, is approaching fast, the cattle markets failed to attract a large number of buyers as compared to last year due to high prices. In a visit to local cattle market by this scribe on Sunday, it was witnessed that a large number of people were visiting the animal markets to buy or see the suitable animals, most of the buyers were disappointed by the price hike and distressed. Keeping in view of increased prices mostly people want to buy a cow, buffalo or ox where they can share sacrificial animal.
Cattle traders have complained about low-sale this year as compared to last year due to increasing price hike of the sacrificial animals. They said that some people liked to buy sacrificial animals a month before the annual festival but it could result in huge losses to them this year.
A sheep dealer said farmers breed the animals, especially for Eid-ul-Azha, they also spend a huge amount and have to wait for two years, so they deserve a handsome return. He further said that in the animal markets of Hazara division local share is very small, usually; traders bring animals in bulk from Punjab which is also a cause of price hike.
According to the survey, the prices have almost doubled this year as compared to last year. For instance, prices of goats range between Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000, while sheep are being traded between Rs 40,000 and Rs 50,000 per animal. Prices of big animals, including cows, oxen and camels, range between Rs 110,000 to Rs 150,000 depending on the weight and appearance of the animal.
The situation is a little different this year, as buyers come to the market, choose their favourite animal, and try to bring down the prices. However, a large number of them return empty-handed after their negotiations fail. The situation is not only difficult for buyers but also for animal traders, who feel quite dejected.
"I have not seen a large presence of animals and their buyers at this cattle market this year. The basic reasons behind this seem to me increase in poverty and price hike," said Muhammad Tariq, a buyer who wished to purchase of a lamb but returned empty-handed due to high price.
Prices of sacrificial animals have almost doubled as compared to normal days, Majid Khan, a buyer, who visited to purchase an ox and buffalo at Ring Road cattle market Peshawar. He said that the sacrifice on Eid-ul-Azha is no more remain their top priority due to looming inflation and surge in prices of commodity goods.
Another citizen, Haji Ishtiaq Ahmad, also complained about the high prices of the sacrificial animal. He said every year citizens make similar complaints but consecutive governments failed to address the problem. The government should introduce some price regulations to curb unfair pricing of sacrificial animals. Such initiative will offer an opportunity to low and middle-income citizens to fulfil their religious obligation," he maintained.
Meanwhile, the price hike of sacrificial animals bothered buyers ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, the demand for cattle has increased in all over the Hazara division. Besides several others, three main animal markets of Haripur, Havelian and Mansehra have been decorated with beautiful and healthy animals but skyrocketing prices of sacrificial animals bound the buyers to wait and see until last day before Eid. In the animal markets of Hazara price of a normal goat starts from 20,000 rupees while cow price starts from 60,000 rupees which is much higher than previous years.