Low footfall leaves goat traders worried in city as Bakrid nears | Patna News – Times of India
Patna: With Bakrid barely a few days away, the goat market of the city is witnessing a sluggish footfall, even as the traders, who have arrived from different states, are hopeful that their business would improve from Friday.
They said the market has been down for the last 10 days due to intense heat in Patna.
Vijay Singh, a trader from Etah in Uttar Pradesh, could not even sell a single animal in the last two days since they came here.“We have brought 150 goats of different breeds, including Ajmeri, Sirohi, Baramati, Totapari and Jamnapari. The price is relatively stable due to low footfall, ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 80,000 depending on the beauty and the weight of the livestock,” he said.
Over 10,000 sacrificial animals have been brought by more than 200 traders at the main market in Patna’s Raja Bazaar area. According to the coordinator of the market, Mohd Ziaullah Khan, only 2,500 goats and lambs have been sold in last 10 days.
Khan told this newspaper on Thursday that the market opened five days later than usual this year due to severe heat. “We have put up proper shades in the market, so that the livestock and traders do not get exposed to sun. Drinking water facilities have also been made. The market remains open till midnight as during daytime, only a few customers are coming but the footfall gradually increases in the evening,” he said, hoping the footfall to increase from Friday. “Most people prefer to buy the sacrificial animals only two-three days ahead of the festival. The main reason is the constraint of space at homes as many people nowadays live in flats. So many even prefer to buy the animals on Bakrid eve,” the coordinator said.
He added the market was sluggish due to heat and people feared the animal might fall sick or die at their homes. “It is forbidden to sacrifice a sick goat,” the coordinator said.
Khan added traders have come from Jharkhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, besides different regions of Bihar. “The rate is nominal this year. Goat weighing around 10-12kg are priced at Rs 8,000-Rs 10,000. On Thursday, a dumba (fat-tailed sheep) was sold at Rs 85,000, which weighs over 80 kg.”
A seller from Samastipur, Ghulam Rabbani said he sold 15 indigenous goats and was hopeful that the sales will increase during the next two days.
Mohd Alam from Pupri in Sitamarhi said he did a business of Rs 2.5 lakh in the last 10 days by selling 28 goats. “No doubt, the footfall is low but we are hopeful to make good business. We will bring more livestock if required,” he said.
They said the market has been down for the last 10 days due to intense heat in Patna.
Vijay Singh, a trader from Etah in Uttar Pradesh, could not even sell a single animal in the last two days since they came here.“We have brought 150 goats of different breeds, including Ajmeri, Sirohi, Baramati, Totapari and Jamnapari. The price is relatively stable due to low footfall, ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 80,000 depending on the beauty and the weight of the livestock,” he said.
Over 10,000 sacrificial animals have been brought by more than 200 traders at the main market in Patna’s Raja Bazaar area. According to the coordinator of the market, Mohd Ziaullah Khan, only 2,500 goats and lambs have been sold in last 10 days.
Khan told this newspaper on Thursday that the market opened five days later than usual this year due to severe heat. “We have put up proper shades in the market, so that the livestock and traders do not get exposed to sun. Drinking water facilities have also been made. The market remains open till midnight as during daytime, only a few customers are coming but the footfall gradually increases in the evening,” he said, hoping the footfall to increase from Friday. “Most people prefer to buy the sacrificial animals only two-three days ahead of the festival. The main reason is the constraint of space at homes as many people nowadays live in flats. So many even prefer to buy the animals on Bakrid eve,” the coordinator said.
He added the market was sluggish due to heat and people feared the animal might fall sick or die at their homes. “It is forbidden to sacrifice a sick goat,” the coordinator said.
Khan added traders have come from Jharkhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, besides different regions of Bihar. “The rate is nominal this year. Goat weighing around 10-12kg are priced at Rs 8,000-Rs 10,000. On Thursday, a dumba (fat-tailed sheep) was sold at Rs 85,000, which weighs over 80 kg.”
A seller from Samastipur, Ghulam Rabbani said he sold 15 indigenous goats and was hopeful that the sales will increase during the next two days.
Mohd Alam from Pupri in Sitamarhi said he did a business of Rs 2.5 lakh in the last 10 days by selling 28 goats. “No doubt, the footfall is low but we are hopeful to make good business. We will bring more livestock if required,” he said.
