Srinagar, Oct 31: With little over a week to Eid -ul- Azha, the demand in the livestock market for sacrificial sheep is surging with each passing day.
 According to market observes the demand shall further grow in the coming days.
 Pertinently, Eid-ul-Azha or Bakr-Eid is the festival when Muslims across the globe sacrifice animals like camel, cow, sheep, ram, goat, etc to perform their religious duty.
 Markets in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir are witnessing great sale of sheep and goats presently. While the prices have hit the roof over the past year, the traders feel that the demand is expected to grow as “we move closer to the festival.”
 “Yes the prices have increased, but people still jubilantly buy,” said Muhammad Ayoub, a trader from Batwara, here.
 He attributes the price rise to the “increased rates of animal fodder.”
 Bilal Ahmed, a trader said: “The prices cannot dampen the spirit of people who deem it a duty to sacrifice an animal on the Eid.”
 “However,” he added, “the affordability can be an issue. But then customers can go for less priced lambs who have less weight.”
 However, many customers alleged that the dealers were demanding exorbitant prices. “The traders are selling the animals at unacceptable prices, and they don’t even negotiate, this is complete monopoly,” said Bashir Ahmed, a buyer.
 He blames authorities for not coming up with rate list on time. “The authorities in CAPD should have come up with the rate list. They are watching the fleecing of the customers as mute spectators,” he said.
 In order to escape the high prices, some people are buying it directly from the villages, “I bought the lambs from Chadoora at comparatively less rates than here. It’s very expensive over here,” said Mushtaq Ahmed, from Qamarawari.
 With the demand mounting during the festive season, traders from different parts of the state have also brought their animals to Srinagar.
 “We bring it here every year, our cattle fetches us the best prices in the city,” said a trader from Pulwama.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 1 Nov 2011 00:00:00 IST