Bengaluru: College students in the city hailing from outskirts of Bangalore have made use of the rising demand for sheep and goats into an opportunity to make a quick buck.
Capitalising on the demand for goats and sheep during the festival of Bakrid, they are buying these animals from their hometowns where the prices have dropped and selling it in the city at exorbitant rates.
Compared to previous years, the price of sheep and goats has decreased marginally in north Bangalore region. Taking advantage of this, students from K R Puram, Devanahalli, Dobbaspet, Tumkur have become traders as selling a single sheep for a minimum profit of Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000!
Mr. Mustafa, a resident of Dobbaspet in Tumkur and studying in a private college near Shivajinagar said that this business would last for just one week. “There is usually no demand for locally supplied goats and sheep as they do not have an attractive look. But this year the supply has come down,’ he said. “I am not a full time businessman. My father is also a trader. I am helping him at this season as he alone can not manage every thing. A sheep fetches us around Rs 10,000 profit. If anyone buys for a fancy rate, we can make a quick buck easily,” he said.
Four sheep sent to Bollywood star
According to the sheep traders, four sheep were sent to Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan from the city to celebrate the festival. One among these four sheep was sold for
Rs 2.35 lakh. JJR Mutton Stall Frazer Town owner J B Ibrahim has sent these sheep to the Bollywood actor.
Dip in the rate
According to the traders, compared to previous years, this year very few buyers have shelled out huge amounts on the sheep. “The average rate per sheep this year is Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000. We are not witnessing any big buys like previous years. One of the reasons is we have not received good looking sheep from North Karnataka region,’ says Mr. Ibrahim Baig, a sheep trader from the Chamrajapet.
City’s sheep markets: Poor hygiene a major concern
A few localities of the city including Chamarajapet grounds, Tannery road, Frazer Town, KR Puram, Yeshwantpur market and Shivajinagar are famous for the Bakrid festival sheep market. But poor hygiene is one the major concerns of both traders as well as the buyers.
In Tannery road alone, thousands of sheep/ goats are bought and sold from Kolar, Tumkur, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagar and parts of Andhra Pradesh, every day. But there are no basic facilities available for both sellers and buyers. “All the business is carried out in the open space. At night time, it is difficult to provide security to these sheep/ goats. Right from drinking water, no facility is provided here,’ says Mr. Usman Khan, a trader. “This is the common problem faced by the traders in all the areas,” he added.
Even at the Chamarajpet ground which is another famous sheep market of the city, business is carried out with out any facilities. “There is no place to even store fodder for the sheep. There is no stall or protection from anti social elements. This sheep market is famous for expensive buys. Still the authorities are not interested in providing some amenities,” said a trader who wished to be anonymous.
Illegal supply?
Many feel that by not providing a systematic market for sheep/ goat and beef traders, BBMP and state government is indirectly encouraging illegal supply of animals for festival. “In many areas in and around Shivajinagar, animals are butchered openly. So need of the hour is regularization of the meat market,” says Mr. Raghunath GH, an animal rights activist.
