Nepal UK
KATHMANDU — The Food Management and Trading Company Limited, a state-owned entity formerly known as Khadya Sansthan, has announced it will not sell goats and mountain goats for the upcoming Dashain festival, a decision officials attribute to difficult road conditions and an environment of fear following recent protests. This marks the first time in nearly three decades that the company will not participate in the festive goat trade.
The chief executive officer of the company, Ramesh Acharya, publicly announced that the poor state of the country's roads makes the transportation of live animals a significant challenge. "The condition of the roads is not good for the transport of animals, so we chose not to sell them during this Dashain," Acharya said. He noted that bringing animals into the Kathmandu Valley from other parts of the country could take several days, with further delays caused by landslides and traffic jams.
This move is particularly significant as the company traditionally sells hundreds of goats at a lower price than private traders, a practice that helps to regulate the market and prevent exorbitant price hikes during the festival, when the demand for mutton skyrockets. The company's decision not to sell is expected to have a notable impact on the market, as it was a key player in ensuring fair prices for consumers.
In addition to logistical challenges, officials cited a political environment that they feel is unsafe for trading. The protests in early September, known as the 'Gen Z' protests, resulted in damage and destruction to several of the company's offices, leaving many officials demoralised and with little confidence in receiving support from security agencies.
Meanwhile, a further complication has arisen as the Kathmandu Metropolitan City's agriculture department has decided not to inspect the health of the animals brought in by private traders. Nurnidhi Neupane, the head of the department, said there seemed "no point inspecting animals when the Food Management and Trading Company Limited has decided not to sell goats this Dashain." He added that the current environment is not safe to carry out such inspections.
Private traders are now expected to supply the high demand for mutton by bringing in goats and buffalo from various districts across Nepal. These animals come from places like Sindhuli, Ramechhap, Okhaldhunga, Bhojpur, Khotang, Hetauda, Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Kavre, Makawanpur, Morang, Sunsari, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Banke, Dang and Bardiya. It is estimated that approximately 500,000 goats are consumed in the Kathmandu Valley each year, with a significant increase in consumption during the Dashain festival.
