Inflation, unchecked livestock rates add to Eid-ul-Adha burden on families in Kashmir

Srinagar, May 19: With Eid-ul-Adha approaching, concerns are mounting across Kashmir over soaring prices of sacrificial animals and mutton, as consumers allege the absence of government regulation has given traders a free hand to indulge in profiteering during the festive season.

Residents said that, unlike previous years, no officially notified rate list has been issued for sacrificial animals, leaving buyers at the mercy of traders allegedly charging arbitrary prices for sheep and goats ahead of Eid.

Many consumers claimed that sacrificial animals are being sold without proper weighing mechanisms, with rates varying significantly from one marketplace to another.

“There is no fixed mechanism now. One trader asks for Rs 35,000 for a sheep, while another demands Rs 45,000 for a similar animal. People purchase these animals as part of a religious obligation, and traders are taking advantage of the situation,” said Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Srinagar.

Another consumer, Javaid Ahmad, said many middle-class families are struggling to afford sacrificial animals this year amid rising inflation and economic distress.

“Prices of petrol, essentials, vegetables, and meat have already skyrocketed. Now, sacrificial animals are also beyond the reach of common people,” he said, demanding stronger market regulation and monitoring.

Apart from sacrificial animals, consumers also expressed concern over a likely spike in mutton prices during Eid-ul-Adha, when meat consumption traditionally increases across Kashmir.

Locals alleged that there is little market oversight at present and claimed that rates of several essential commodities are effectively being dictated by trader bodies rather than government authorities.

“For years, the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department used to issue rate lists and conduct regular market inspections before Eid. Now nobody knows what the actual rates are. The government should restore powers to the department,” said Showkat Ahmad, a resident of downtown Srinagar.

Officials from the department admitted that they no longer possess adequate authority to regulate prices or enforce rate lists as effectively as before.

“We are on the ground and continue market inspections, but we are not empowered to regulate rates like earlier. If officials question traders over higher prices, they are often told that the department has no authority to fix rates,” an official said.

Another official said that extensive market checking ahead of Eid earlier helped maintain price stability and prevent overcharging.

“There used to be pressure on traders because rate lists were officially notified and enforcement teams were active. Deregulation has considerably weakened the department’s role,” the official added.

Meanwhile, traders defended the pricing pattern, saying rates vary depending on the breed, weight, and rearing costs of animals.

“One cannot compare every sacrificial animal. Some are specially reared for Eid and are provided with proper feed and care for months. Buyers also prefer healthier and better-looking animals and willingly pay more for them,” said a trader from Eidgah, Srinagar.

However, consumers said the absence of transparency and official monitoring has created confusion in the market at a time when many households are already grappling with financial stress.

They urged the government to ensure adequate livestock availability, strengthen market regulation, and restore enforcement powers to the concerned department to prevent what they described as unchecked profiteering ahead of Eid al-Adha.