Meat price for Bada Dashain fixed to bring uniformity

Kathmandu: Meat traders have fixed the price of goat meat for the Bada Dashain festival. The price of goat meat has been fixed to bring uniformity on the occasion of Dashain festival, according to meat traders. The goat meat including stomach and intestine has been fixed at Rs 1,000 per kilogram (kg). Likewise, the price for meat mixed with fats has been fixed at Rs 1,200 per kg while it will cost Rs 1,300 for a kilo of meat including ribs on the customer's choice. Similarly, the price for a kilo of chicken has been fixed at Rs 300 while the price of buffalo meat and pork will cost Rs 500 each per kilo. The National Meat Entrepreneurs' Association (NMEA) has stated that the prices of goat and billy goat meat, chicken, buffalo meat and pork have been fixed across the country including Kathmandu Valley with effect from Phulpati, the seventh day of Bada Dashain festival. Chairman of the association, Ramesh Khadgi, said that the price of goat and billy goat meat has been fixed at three different prices. Meanwhile, the association has already instructed the meat traders to stick to the meat price list and implement the fixed price. If the meat is not distributed as per the fixed price, action will be taken by the association, the chairman said. Usually, the consumption of chicken and pork is relatively less than other meat during Dashain. According to Khadgi, there will be no change in the price of goat, billy goat and buffalo meat during the festival. The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection Management (DoCSM), on September 22, had issued a directive to pay attention to the quality, price and hygiene of meat for the Bada Dashain festival. After holding a discussion with the meat traders, the DoCSM had urged to bring uniformity in meat price along with quality. The price of Himalayan grey sheep, also known as chyangra is expected to double this year as grey sheep have not been imported from China this year. Entrepreneurs arbitrarily increase the price of grey sheep saying that production is low and demand is high in the country. Chairman Khadgi said that the price of grey sheep will increase this year as compared to last year. According to the NMEA, live grey sheep were sold at Rs 700 to Rs 800 per kg last year and meat at Rs 2,000 per kg. Deepak Thapa, chairman of and Agriculture Farm Group, said that enough goats have been imported. He informed that there will be no shortage of meat during Dashain festival as the traders have already brought the required number of goats. It has been learnt that only 4,000 grey sheep are ready to be sold this year. Around 7,000 grey sheep were sold in Kathmandu valley last year. READ ALSO:

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