BAN ON CHICKEN SALES SENDS GOAT MEAT PRICE SOARING

PRICE of goat meat reached up to Rs 800 per kg on Sunday, thanks to the government’s ban on chicken sales amid bird flu outbreak. Until a few days ago, goat meat was selling at Rs 700 per kg. With rising demand for goat meat, the price of live goat too has soared. On Sunday, live goats at Khashi Bazzar in Kalanki were selling for Rs 420-430, per Kg. On Friday and Saturday, they were selling for Rs 370-375 per kg. Government authorities on Thursday imposed a ban on supply and sales of poultry products after bird flu cases were found at several poultry farms in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. Since July 16, when the cases of bird flu were first reported, authorities have culled over 60,000 chickens at 27 farms in the valley. “Despite having increased supplies, we are finding it difficult to fulfil the market demand, which has taken off massively in the past two days,” said Dipak Thapa, chairman of the Livestock Buying and Selling Service Association, an organisation of goat traders. Thapa said the association has increased the supplies to 7,500 goats per week, up from around 5,000 goats in normal period. The Kathmandu valley requires an estimated 84,000 kg goat meat every day. Around 85 percent goats available in the market are imported from India. Domestic production in places like Surkhet, Salyan and Ramechap, among others, makes up the remaining 15 percent. Ballu Balram Khadgi, proprietor of iKalu Meat Centre at New Baneshwor, said his shop has witnessed a sharp rise in sales of goat meat. “After the government banned the sales of poultry products, meat eaters are compelled to go for goat meat,” said Khadki, adding the store, which used to sell around 40 kg goat meat daily, is now selling around 100 kg. Traders said orders coming in for big parties too have increased. While chicken normally remains the most widely selling meat item due to its relatively cheaper price and acceptability at parties, goat meat has been in high demand since Saturday. “Since meat is considered one of the essentials of the parties, people are buying goat meat in bulk despite the price hike,” a trader based in Pulchowk, Lalitpur, said. Due to the ban on poultry products, almost all meat shops in the Kathmandu valley were seen shuttered on Sunday. “I have shut one of my shops at Sinamangal,” said Khadgi. “Small traders have been hit hard.” According to Nepal Chicken Sellers’ Business Association, the Kathmandu valley demands around 250,000 kg chicken meat per day. Traders said since chicken is the major source of their income and the top selling product, the ban on the popular meat has kept people away from meat shops.