Livestock Traders in Maracha district and Parts of
West Nile have decried the dwindling number and increasing price of animals at Nyadri
livestock market after the festivities.
Nyadri is the only livestock market in Maracha which
draws traders from Yumbe, Koboko Terego, DR Congo and Yei province in South
Sudan.
On a single day, the livestock market receives over
500 animals mainly Cattle, Goats and Sheep each with over 400 birds.
According to Martin Amati the Chairperson of Maracha Livestock
Traders based in Nyadri, most people sold their animals during the Christmas
and New Year period and now the numbers have drastically reduced from over 500
animals to less than 200 on a single market day.
Amati who has been in the livestock business for the
last five years says despite the low supply and demand for livestock, the price
of the animals remains high.
////
Cue
in: "This is the place where ………………….
Cue
out:……………………….very high my friend//
Meanwhile Jersem Embatia, a resident of Arua City who went
to buy some cows at Nyadri livestock market for paying bride price on Saturday expressed
shock at the price range for cattle.
he suggested the need for the government
to intervene in boosting livestock farming.
According to Embatia, keeping animals requires
adequate piece of land which most people don't have because of land fragmentation.
////Cue
in "I have come to nyadri ………………….
Cue
out:……………………….we can really do//
Justus Oyema the LCII chairperson of
Pabura who oversees the operations of Nyadri Livestock market explained that the
prices vary according to the sizes of the animals.
He however admitted that the prices have remained high over
the last two months.
///Cue
in: "if you take the cow ………………….Cue
out:……………………….also koboko arua"//
ard Drasiku the
LC one chairman of Nyadri livestock market area told URN that apart from the
low animal supply and high prices, they also face challenges of theft of animals
that are brought to be sold at Nyadri market and that the time allocated for
the market from 7am to 12 Noon is not adequate for buyers and sellers to do
proper business .
////Cue in: Our problem
here is ………………….
Cue out:……………………….not
enough for me//
According to Dr.
Abubaker Abirima, the Veterinary Officer Maracha, livestock traders should embrace
veterinary services for good animal health and future livestock business
sustainability in the district and the region.