Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Jul 10: Demand for goat and sheep has increased by leaps and bounds in Karnataka in the wake of the Bakrid festival. Not only has the price gone up but the situation is such that there are no goats available in the market.

Usually goats are supplied from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Vijayapura. In Maharashtra, the price of goat is Rs 600 per kg. Most of the trucks have gone to Maharashtra as the price in Karnataka is Rs 400 to 500 per kg.

Last year, the price of live goat was Rs 380 to 400. This year it has shot up to Rs 500 to 600 a kilo. Goat merchants say that the hire fare of truck that brings goats from Rajasthan was Rs 1.10 lac last year and this year it has gone up to Rs 1.60 lac.

Mangaluru market has the lowest price of goats at around Rs 410 to 420 a kilo. The reason is the low quality of goat breed that arrives into this market. In other places, people buy goat based on its age, teeth, horn and beauty, whereas in Mangaluru it is just the height and weight.

According to a survey, out of the 20 crore Muslims in the country, around 8 to 10% offer goat or sheep as sacrifice to God during Bakrid. Even if one takes Rs 20,000 as the average price per goat, for two crore goats, the value would be Rs four lac crores. This money goes to rural farmers of India. Goat farming is providing employment for nearly 20 lac people. This year the farmers have got a bumper price.

The prohibition of slaughtering cow, ox and bison in Karnataka is also the reason for the steep rise in price of goats and sheep.