NAN-H-35
Livestock
By Muhammad Nasir Bello/Habibu Harisu
Sokoto, Aug. 30, 2017 (NAN) Livestock and ram sellers in Sokoto markets and environs on Wednesday decried low patronage just as the markets were being flooded with the animals few days to Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
A trader in Kware market, Malam Tijjani Lawalli, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), that the number of traders coming to buy animals in bulk from other parts of the country have reduced compared to what was obtained in the past.
Lawalli explained that such traders used to transport livestock to markets in Abuja, Kaduna, Lagos and other parts of the country, noting that at present most of the animals were being returned unsold.
He said the economic situation has drastically affected prices of rams, cows and livestock.
The trader said that due to the prevalent economic situation, business has been on the down side, adding that business should be booming now, but reverse was the case.
According to him, a cow that used to cost N150, 000, now goes for between N130, 000 to N120, 000.
He also said that sheep that sold for N30, 00 is now being sold at lower prices, while medium size ram cost about N35, 000 to N45, 000 as against N75, 000.
Another livestock seller in Dange, Alhaji Yusha’a Mai-kara, expressed optimism that the poor patronage may improve as workers were just being paid their salaries.
He added that salary earners in the state constituted majority of buyers in the township markets.
Mai-kara appealed to transporters to consider the situation and bring down transportation fares because of the availability of petroleum products.
He said that hitherto about 10 truckload of animals were recorded on weekly markets, but added that it has dropped to as low as three to five truckload.
A Poultry farmer, Malam Musa Muhammad, also said patronage of egg and chicken had also dropped at present, adding that the prices were stable.
Muhammad said a crate of egg sold at N850 and medium size locally breed chicken now sold for between N1, 300 to N1, 500 up N2, 000 depending on the size and maturity. (NAN)
BMN/HMH/ESAN/EAL
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Edited by Abiodun Esan/Ekemini Ladejobi