As Eid al-Adha approaches, the people of Afghanistan are facing a double whammy of poverty and soaring livestock prices, leaving many with little to celebrate the holiday.
Kabul24: Livestock markets have been set up in many parts of the country for people to buy an animal for Eid al-Adha, but sellers are reporting fewer buyers this year due to the rising cost of living.
“The supply of sacrificial animals is good compared to previous years,” a livestock seller in Takhar province said. “But people are unable to buy” he added.
For many sellers, there will be no market for them if the situation doesn’t improve.
Esmatullah, a livestock seller from Badakhshan province, said he has brought 35 goats and lambs to the market, but only sold 11 over the last few days. “I don’t think I could sell all them. There are not enough people who can afford.” He said.
Nazeer Ahmad, a resident in Takhar, said the that economy has collapsed and prices have skyrocketed since the Taliban takeover in August 2021 and prices have soared. “I bought a lamb for 12,000 Afghani ($140) last year. This year a lamb costs 15,000 Afghani ($175),” he lamented.
Livestock sellers in Takhar also blame the provincial governor for pushing the prices up through different forms of taxes.
