Price spike has made charity harder this year, lament residents

Monday, Jan 09, 2006

Abu Dhabi: Residents here are rushing to Mina Cattle Market to buy sheep and goats to present as sacrifice for the poor on the occasion of Eid Al Adha. The price hike is, however, making charity hard for them.

Those who buy sheep can use the slaughterhouse near the cattle market or get a butcher to their house.

They can also donate the cattle to charity organisations, who buy sheep and give the meat to the poor.

Size

According to traders, sheep prices vary from Dh400 to Dh700, depending on the size of the sheep. The Somali sheep, a cheaper kind, could vary from Dh230 to Dh250. Goat prices vary between Dh300 and Dh400.

Fadl Obadi, a Yemeni trader who has a shop in the cattle market, felt that the prices are affordable.

"This year the prices are OK but we are not expecting a lot of people as several new organisations conduct the entire process for people who want to represent the sacrifice," he told Gulf News.

"Nevertheless, there will be more buyers today."

Sami Al Nafis, a UAE national, said he comes every year to buy a sheep. "I come here every year and I think the prices are not so bad. They have been like this for the past few years."

Distribute

Adel Al Masri, a 48-year-old Palestinian, said prices are a little higher compared to previous years. "I paid Dh600 for a sheep. I will give some of the meat to relatives and the rest to poor people."

Ali Hamadi, a 31-year-old UAE national working at the Civil Service Department, said he buys the sheep and supervises the slaughtering himself.

"The prices have increased a lot. I used to buy the sheep for Dh170 or Dh180.

"Now prices have increased 60 per cent. I think the traders are exploiting a lack of control on the prices. Tomorrow, prices will be even higher," he added.

Trade

Demand for locally raised mountain goats have been quite high this year, said traders in Ras Al Khaimah.

Nationals living in the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah have started a livestock market under the RAK-Al Nakheel Bridge to sell the goats. The prices have gone up remarkably due to demand, they said.

Prior to Eid Al Adha, a mountain goat cost between Dh500 and Dh700 but now the prices have gone up to Dh1,200 and can easily reach Dh2,000 according to the weight of the animal, said Rashid Bin Suwaidi Al Qeesh, a national trader.

Saeed Mohammad Al Mahboobi, a national, said they have chosen this location away from the livestock market to differentiate the locally raised goats from the imported sheep.

Nationals from other emirates, mainly Dubai and Abu Dhabi, have been visiting the area to buy their sacrificial animals for Eid Al Adha.

Saeed Mohammad Al Mahboobi, a national trader, said the taste of mountain goat meat is different from the imported livestock.