खसीको व्यापार
CHITWAN, October 18:
Traders have reported that the trade of goats and he-goats during the Bada Dashain festival in the district will exceed NPR 300 million. During this festival, ritual sacrifices are made of goats, he-goats, buffaloes, pigs, and chickens.
With the onset of Dashain, the market trade for goat and he-goats meat has surged in the district. According to Ganesh Prasad Kandel, President of the Meat Traders Association, Chitwan, more than 15,000 goats will be commercially slaughtered solely for this year’s Dashain. President Kandel estimates that transactions worth NPR 300 million will take place during the festival period alone. Out of over 1,000 meat shops in the district, 150 specialize exclusively in mutton, while others sell chicken alongside goat meat. He noted that this data does not include home-produced and locally consumed goats. During last year’s Dashain, more than 10,000 goats and mountain goats (Chhyangra) were sold. Pointing out that sales are expected to increase this time, he estimated that up to 15,000 goats and mountain goats (either live or dressed) will be sold, generating a turnover of NPR 300 million.
Kandel highlighted that Chitwan’s meat traders have not imported Indian goats for Dashain over the past five years. Since cooperatives operating in Chitwan started producing goats, the import of goats from India has been halted, he added. According to him, some of the goats raised in Chitwan have also been sent to Kathmandu this time. Goats typically arrive in Chitwan from districts such as Gorkha, Dhading, Nawalparasi, and Tanahun. The price of live goats exceeds NPR 700 per kilogram, while mutton is being sold in the Chitwan market at a retail price of NPR 1,200 per kilogram.
He stated that chicken meat does not sell much during Dashain, estimating that chicken worth around NPR 40 million is likely to be sold. Compared to last year, the supply of mountain goats (Chhyangra) in Chitwan for Dashain has exceeded demand. While mountain goats previously arrived exclusively from Mustang, they are currently coming into the Chitwan market from Jumla, Bajhang, and Dolpa as well. Over 3,000 mountain goats have arrived in Chitwan this Dashain, which is expected to boost trade. Unlike previous years when meat sales surged only from Fulpati, consumption is projected to be higher this year as sales have increased right from Ghatasthapana.
RSS/Unified Nepal
