Bhopal: With Eid-ul-Zuha just three days away, the makeshift goat markets in the city are abuzz with activity but nothing like last year. Not happy with the response, the traders have attributed the slow business to demonetisation and GST, besides inflation and rain. Sellers from Hoshangabad, Sehore, Sironj, Gwalior, Shivpuri and Silwani as well as from other states including Kota (Rajasthan) have reached the capital to sell their goats. The prices range from Rs 10,000 to Rs one lakh. The sellers lamented that the market was quite sluggish in comparison to the last year.
“We have three breeds of goats including Jamuna Parikh, Tota Parikh and Punjabi which price range starts from Rs 24,000 to 35,000. The goats of Jamuna Parikh breed are in demand the price of which is Rs 35,000. The weight of 24-year-old goat is 90 kg. The rate of goat depends on weight, size and teeth,” says Dilip who hails from Kota (Rajasthan) and has been coming at Bhopal for six years to sale goats at Badabagh, Shahjahanabad adding “the sales are down by 60% this year due to rains.” He claimed that they are being made to cough up Rs 400 per goat at toll tax booths.
Frioz Khan who hails from Hoshangabad and has been coming Bhopal for 15 years to sell goats at Subhash Phatak says, “We have been associated in the business for past many years; but we are getting such poor response for the first time. We brought 40 goats but could sell only 15 goats in five days. Last year its number was 172 and sale was of Rs 50 lakhs. Till now our sale is Rs 90,000, This year our sale are down 80 per cent due demonetisation and Goods and Service Tax (GST).”
Khan further said, “We used to transport our goat in Hyderabad and Mumbai every year but this year couldn’t do due to GST. Our 60 per cent sale is based on these two states. Also, people have no money. Customers are bargaining a lot. They want to purchase goat of Rs 15,000 in 8,000.”
“Most of people purchase those goats which are healthy and have two teeth. It is said to be auspicious for qurbani (sacrifice). We have desi goats their price ranged between Rs 5,000 to 15,000. We came here eight days before Eid to sell goats. The condition of market is so poor that we sold goat of Rs 10,000 in Rs 5000,” said Ubais Aalam from Sehore who is associated with the business for last 20 years.
Rais Khan who hails from Shivpuri and has been coming Bakra Mandi at Badabagh, Shahjahanabad for 10 years said, “We are in great loss due rain as well as inflation. We have desi (local) 40 goats which price is from Rs 8000 to 16,000. But we could not sell single goat in five to six days. After rain, the place has become muddy. So, customers are avoiding coming here”.
Shakeel Ahmed, a business man who visited Badabagh, Shahjahanabad, says, “We purchased local goat of two teeth. We generally prefer to purchase goat of two and four teeth said to auspicious and fit for sacrifice. Besides teeth, we also see the health, weight and size of goat. Sometimes it also depends on our budget.”
