Breaking

Maracha Livestock Buyers Decry High Prices

12 Jan 2025 18:28
Livestock Traders at Nyadri Livestock Market in Maracha District on Saturday

Audio 4

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.