Report by Sudan Radio Service - SRS
27 November 2009 - (Khartoum) - Livestock prices have risen in Khartoum as Muslims celebrate the Feast of Sacrifice, or Eid al-Adha.
Sheep are particularly in demand during the holiday period as they are sold to be slaughtered and eaten as part of the celebrations.
Sudan Radio Service spoke to traders who were selling sheep in the city on Friday. They say prices have risen sharply because Sudanese livestock exports have increased over the last year and there are fewer sheep on the market.
Salim Abdalla Hamad Salim is from Southern Kordofan.
[Salim Abdalla]: “The price of sheep has risen this year compared to last year because the export market has affected the prices and makes them expensive. Large numbers have been exported. I cannot say exactly how many have been exported but large numbers of sheep have been exported. Some animals are being sold for between 400 SDG and 150 SDG. Prices depend on the size of the animal. The big one has its price and the small one has its price also. The cheapest sheep goes for 135 SDG and the highest price is 500 SDG. This year, business is not going well because of the increase in prices.”
Ismail Abdalla Imam, from Kutum in Northern Darfur, says large numbers of quality sheep from Darfur have been exported and this explains the rise in prices.
[Ismail Abdalla Imam]: “We have special customers and we bring them the kind of animals they require. As you can see here, most of these animals are from western Sudan - these red ones are from western Sudan and the white ones are from eastern Sudan. You have to provide quality to stimulate the market and motivate the customer who comes to buy. That big white sheep over there will sell for around 550 SDG and the red one is also worth 550 SDG. The white one in the middle could fetch up to 330 SDG.”
Eid al-Adha is a Muslim holiday which celebrates the story of Ibrahim, or Abraham, whose faith was so strong he was prepared to sacrifice his son to God.
