By Matthew Denis
Ram sellers in Ilorin, Kwara State have complained over low patronage ahead the Eid-el Kabir celebration.
The Sallah celebration is expected to come up on Sunday 11th and Monday 12th August, 2019.
Some of traders who spoke to Pilot Business on Saturday lamented that their hope for brisk business had been dashed by the current situation.
A major ram and goats trader at the Mandate Ultramodern Market, Mr. Suleiman Elega lamented that with the Sallah celebration few days away, he is yet to smile to the bank.
“We decided to reduce prices of our rams to woo customers but they are not forthcoming. We’re selling cows at the rate of N50,000 to N150,000.
“Prices of our rams ranges between N15,000 to N150,000, goats from N5,000 to N40,000 depending on the size, ” he added.
He further said that some traders had resorted to selling their rams on credit to customers due to the current economic realities.
Elega who is the Chairman of Kwara Ram and Goat Sellers, called on government at all levels to ensure prompt salary payment so as to enable Muslims to buy ram for the celebration.
A livestock seller, Ibrahim Muritala, also lamented the situation and attributed the development to non-payment of salaries by many employers, resulting in low purchasing power of potential customers.
He said although similar development was experienced in the previous years, the situation was worse last year.
A livestock dealer in Sango Cattle Market, Bello Kunle bemoaned low sales in recent time, saying that the biggest ram cost about N110,000 while a small one goes for N30,000.
He, however, said that the prices of the livestock have reduced by an average of 40 to 80 per cent compared to what obtained last year, stating that the same size of ram, which now sells for N100,000, was sold for about N120,000 last year.
“The present economic situation in the country has contributed a lot to the low patronage. But we still have hope in God that things may change, because we still have a few days to the festival.”
Another trader, Alhaji Zakari Ganiyu said the prices of the rams may be further reduced to encourage buyers.
“The prices of rams will still crash as we will not want to return with the unsold rams,” he noted.
