Sallah: Rams everywhere, but no buyers on sight

Livestock dealers decry low patronage     Residents groan over soaring prices Few days to Eid-el Kabeer, dealers of domestic animals in Kano metropolis have decried low patronage, while residents groaned over soaring prices, Kano Chronicle can report. Kano Chronicle observed that although there was availability of the livestock in the state, but the patronage […]

• Livestock dealers decry low patronage    

• Residents groan over soaring prices

Few days to Eid-el Kabeer, dealers of domestic animals in Kano metropolis have decried low patronage, while residents groaned over soaring prices, Kano Chronicle can report.
Kano Chronicle observed that although there was availability of the livestock in the state, but the patronage was negligible this year compared to last year.

Our reporters, who went round some livestock markets within the metropolis, observed that animals such as Ram, Sheep, Camel and Cow were expensive this year.

Some residents and dealers of livestock interviewed by our reporters at different temporary animals’ markets within the metropolis had expressed divergent views on why price of animals skyrocketed.

Malam Ibrahim Sulaiman, a resident of Gyadi-Gyadi quarters, told Kano Chronicle that he could not slaughter ram this year because he had no money to buy one, noting that, “I have already informed my wife about my predicament and he has reasoned with me. I will rather buy meat for my family since I cannot afford to buy a ram this year.

“This is not the first time we celebrate Sallah without slaughtering a ram. I thanked God I have an understanding wife. She always supports me in a situation like this.”

Malam Shamsuddeen Atiku has expressed concern over the soaring price of animals this year, saying “Last year, I bought a ram at N27, 000 but I have been to several markets with same amount to get one this year but I could not because the price was very high. I therefore, decided to go for a combined sacrifice. Three of us have decided to buy one ram of at least N60, 000 to share among us,” he concluded.

Alhaji Kabiru Isa told Kano Chronicle that the increase in the price of animals might not be unconnected with the current economic challenges affecting the country, noting that “People are battling with abject poverty this time, hence cannot afford to buy animal for sacrifice during Sallah.”

Alhaji Shehu B. Ahmad, an animal dealer at a temporary market behind Kano Trade Fair complex, attributed the low patronage to lack of money on the part of buyers.

“Though the price of animals is a little bit higher compared to last year, but what I understand is that people don’t have money this time around. Last year, you can buy a ram fit for sacrifice at N15, 000 but this year a ram of the same size is sold at N25, 000. And a cow that we sold N300, 000 last year, is now N350, 000 and above,” he said.

Contrary to Atiku’s view, the Chairman of Gandun Albasa animals’ market, Alhaji Ibrahim Ado said the animals were still affordable depending on the choice of buyers.

He said, “The price of a small ram starts from N10,000, N12,000, N15,000 and N20,000 upwards, while that of small cow begins from N55,000, N60,000, N70,000 and N80,000 depending on the size.

“What makes the animals to be expensive is that most people buy their animals few days to the Sallah and some on Sallah day. And, you know one week to Sallah day is always a peak period for our business. So, the more people rush to buy the animals, the higher the prices will shoot up. But when buyers are scarce, the animals tend to be cheaper.”

Rabi’u Sani Kofar Na’isa, is a dealer of livestock at Kofar Na’isa temporary market and he told Kano Chronicle that price of a medium female cow starts from N80,000 and above, while a male cow was sold at N100,000, N110,000 and N300,000 depending on the size.

“The problem we are facing this year is that some people from the city also travelled to various villages where we source animals and buy directly from the herders. Their actioon affected our business in the city in a negative way,” he lamented.

Another dealer, Alhaji Ibrahim Banki, who has been in the business for 30 years, opined that “the animals are not expensive in the actual sense. Rather the people have developed the habit of buying the animals late.

Adamu Umaru Sumaila said, “The livestock are seen expensive because there is scarcity of funds among people. Had it been they have money, they will not bother about the price. So. the low patronage was connected to the current insufficient cash flow.”

Another dealer at Gandun Albasa animal market, Auwalu Sani, who complained about low patronage, said the prices of camel starts 70,000 and above.

He said, “The price of a medium cow this year starts from N80, 000 upwards.  I buy camels from Niger republic while the cows from Bauchi, Kastina, Jigawa and other northern states. Although there is low patronage, but we thanked God because those that have the means are still buying the animals.”

Kano Chronicle observed that the animals are being sourced from various local markets including Shuwarin (Jigawa), Dambatta (Kano), Azare (Bauchi),  Gaidam (Yobe), Maigatari (Jigawa), Mai’Adua (Katsina), Wudil (Kano), Maiduguri (Borno) Potiskum (Yobe) and Zinder in Niger republic among other places.