Less than 24 hours to the Eid-el-Kabir, rams sellers in some northern states are lamenting low sales.
In Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, ram sellers still await customers while their counterparts in Kano, Katsina and Kaduna states also complained of low patronage.
But, buyers have accused the sellers of slamming unaffordable price on the rame, this time around.
Regardless, Daily Sun observed, yesterday, that the Karan market in Birnin Kebbi, where rams are sold, was deserted while the animals and their sellers looked on and eagerly awaited buyers.
Chairman of ram sellers in Birnin- Kebbi, Mallam Ibrahim Mairago disclosed that they have more rams to sell this year because farmers in the state bred more for this year’s eid-el-kabir.
Similarly, leader of cow sellers in the market, Alhaji Aliyu Dillali reiterated that they are still waiting for customers, even though the price of the rams was not different from that of last year.
But, a customer Daily Sun spoke to in the market, Mustapha Ahmed, countered the ram sellers.
Ahmed said the price of ram is more expensive this year, compared to 2016.
He noted that last year, a ram sold at N50,000 but is selling for N70,000 this year.
In Zaria, Kaduna state, sellers also expressed concern over low patronage.
Sarkin Turkun Sarkin Zazzau, Mallam Abdulmuminu Alhassan, described the market situation this year as worrisome.
He attributed the low patronage to the economic downturn in the country and added that, in view of the economic predicament and high cost of the rams, those who used to buy five rams now go for only two.
Alhassan said a ram of about N70,000 now costs between N100,000 and N120,000.
“A small one that used to cost N20,000 now sells for between N25,000 and N30,000,” he said.
Alhaji Uwaisu Lawal, a ram seller behind Queen FM, Tudun Wada, Zaria, compared sales of past years, and described this year’s sales as the lowest.
“Actually, the patronage is lower, compared to previous years.
“People are not purchasing as they used to and this can be linked with Nigerians not having enough money at hand. However, the price of ram is also on the high side, due to the high price of animal feeds.
“A bag of crop residue, which was N3,500 now goes for N6,000; while a bag of seed pods, which was initially sold at N2,500 now sells between N4,500 and N5,000,” he noted.
Lawal also attributed the high cost of the rams to low supply, compared with the demand.
Meanwhile, Malam Auwal Aliyu, a ram seller at Sabongari, Zaria, attributed scarcity of rams to the non-influx of animals from Niger Republic and other neigbouring countries.
“In previous years, ram sellers from Nigeria go as far Niger Republic and other neighbouring countries to bring the animals.
“However, this year, the situation is no longer the same and this is due to the high exchange rates,” Aliyu said.
Malam Sani Yaro, a livestock dealer at Unguwa-Uku market, lamented the low sale compared to 2016, without giving figures.
Yaro said that although the patronage was low, prices had gone up by about 30 per cent compared to last year.
“People are complaining about the prices, but they must understand that we didn’t buy them cheap; so there is nothing we can do but pray things improve in the coming days.”
Another dealer in the market, Sabo Maigari, told NAN that he sold only seven out of the 30 rams he brought to Kano a week ago.
“The economic situation has contributed to the low sales and is affecting us,’’ Maigari said.
He attributed the current high prices to the increase in the cost of transporting the animals from Niger Republic.
Malam Buba Saidu, another dealer who brought rams from Zamfara, said some of the customers were only coming to bargain without buying.
“We pray to make some sales before Sallah because returning the rams to Zamfara will be a loss to me, considering the expenses.
Idi Sule, a buyer at Dawanau cattle market, said he was at the market for the second day but could not afford the price.
“I was here on Monday but I cannot buy because the same size I bought last year at N20,000 is being sold for N30,000. I am here today very prepared to see that I get one,” he said. Another buyer, Rasheed Ola, expressed hope that the prices would fall when more rams flooded the market in the state.
Secretary of Cattle Sellers Association in Kumbotso Market, Alhaji Dauda Sufi, said small, medium and big rams now sell at higher prices, compared to last year.
“Small, average and big rams this year are selling at N30,000, N50,000 and N120,000 as against N20,000, N35,000 and N80,000, respectively in 2016,” he said.
NAN reports that average rams fetch between N40,000 and N50,000, while bigger size go for between N120,000 and 130,000, respectively.
In International Maiadua Market, Katsina State, NAN reports that the poor patronage was attributed to the current recession in the country.
Chairman of the Ram Dealers Association in Maiadua, Malam Musa Rabe, said apart from low patronage, prices have crashed, compared to last year.
He said a ram sold for between N70,000 and N80,000 last year, was now fetched between N50,000 and N40,000.
He attributed the low patronage to the current economic recession affecting the nation, stressing that majority of the dealers had to take their rams back home due to lack of patronage.
Musa Maidoya, another dealer at the cow section of the market, lamented the low patronage of the animals.
He said a bull of N120,000 was being sold at between N80,000 and N90,000, adding the animals were brought from Niger Republic but the market was poor compared to last year.
