Easter: Low Sales Hit Goat Meat Butchers in Enugu

Butchers processing goats in some markets in Enugu say the high cost of goats is adversely affecting their business.

The butchers, who spoke to THE WHISTLER, say the major source of goats to Enugu and South East in general is the North, blaming poor patronage on the high cost of gas which has led to increase in the price of goats in the region.

Ifebuche Nnadi assists his father, a butcher, at New Market, Enugu. He said, “This time last year, the pressure to kill goats for customers was high. Then a big goat was processed for around N3, 000, and we never rested. But this year, two days to Easter, throughout today, I only killed two goats. Things are difficult.”

He said assisting his father in processing goats for customers had assisted him in his educational career.

Quoting him, “I’m in my secondary school final year. What I save in processing goats helps me in school. I buy some of the things I need in school from my savings during festivals like this. But this year’s Easter has not been encouraging. I expect a boom tomorrow. I don’t lose hope easily.”

His father, Moses, said the cause of the rise was because Igbo people are mainly into buying and selling, noting that, “we don’t have a solid base in agro-products”.

In his words, “Igbo land is far behind in animal farming. Our meat supply comes from the North only, though our people rear pigs.

“Goats are very expensive. A sizable goat goes for N150, 000. Before this Easter, it was around N70,000. Goats are cheap in the North, but the middlemen are causing this problem.”

A goat dealer, James Ugwu, corroborates what the butchers said. According to him, “We depend on whatever the suppliers say is the price of goats. At times, the prices are high; at times, they are low. We don’t control the prices. The fact is that we only buy and sell.”

James advised Igbo business men to go into animal farms. He said, “If you don’t manufacture, forces of demand and supplies determine prices.

“I advise South-East stakeholders, including the governors, to explore ways of encouraging animal production in this region. Our local government chairmen should wake up.”

Easter: Low Sales Hit Goat Meat Butchers in Enugu is first published on The Whistler Newspaper