The prevalent economic downturn has reduced the demand for rams for the eid-el-kabir as many adherents of the Islamic faith in parts of Niger State now go for turkeys and chicken to celebrate the season.
Cattle markets springing up along major roads and streets within Minna, Niger State capital, and its environs have further brought down the cost of rams for the traditional sallah sacrifices though the patronage has not improved, a ram seller, Umar Ndama, said.
With the rams selling between N50, 000 and N70, 000 for big size, N40, 000 and N20, 000 for the medium and small sized rams, respectively, Umar lamented that patronage has not been encouraging compared to previous years, a development he blamed on harsh economy.
“Customers come to find the cost of rams, after they will tell you that they are coming but they will not come back. The situation is the same in all the markets, low patronage”, Umar told our correspondent when she spoke to some ram dealers.
Umar, who imports rams from neighbouring Kebbi and Sokoto during eid-el-kabir and similar celebrations, expressed fears of their continuing in the business because they survive on percentage, depending on the number of rams sold.
Also as part of marketing strategies to improve sales, some dealers, Umar explained, even hawk rams along major roads and streets within Minna metropolis to meet interested buyers at their door steps but this he said has also not yielded desired results.
.Source: nigerianewsflight.com
