KATHMANDU, Oct 26: The price of mountain goats almost doubled in the capital during this year´s Dashain festival compared to the price last year. Supplies of mountain goats to the capital was disrupted as a bridge along the Rasuwa route collapsed ahead of the Dashain festival.
Traders said live mountain goats were sold for Rs 450 per kg this year, well up compared to Rs 280 per kg last year.
With the sharp rise, customers had to pay an additional Rs 2,500 to 3,500 for each mountain goat.
“We saw a sharp decline in supply of mountain goats this year which pushed the price,” Deepak Thapa, president of the Nepal Livestock Traders Association told Republica on Friday.
Traders sold mountain goat meat for Rs 875 to Rs 900 per kg during the Dashain festival, up from Rs 450 to Rs 500 per kg last year.
Thapa also attributed the price rise to the stronger Chinese currency -- renminbi -- and various obstacles along the transit roads, including extortion by different groups. The exchange rate of Chinese Yuan has gone up to around Rs 14 from Rs 11 compared to the same period last year.
“Most of the mountain goats were consumed in the village itself. Moreover, a bridge along the Rasuwa route fell down blocking the movement of goats to the capital leading to short supply during the Dashain festival,” added Thapa.
Mountain goats are imported from Tibet through Tatopani and Rasuwagadi passes to the capital during the Dashain festival. “We have no option other than to raise the price when supplies fall,”said Thapa.
He, however, said traders were reluctant to deal in mountain goats as they have become less affordable to the general consumers.
According to the association, around 300 mountain goats imported to the capital during the Dashain remained unsold.
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