CHITRAL: The supply of mutton and beef to Chitral market has fallen drastically over the last couple of years, as farmers from the bordering Baroghil and neighbouring Afghan area of Badakhshan have stopped bringing their animals to the local market.

Talking to this correspondent here, a number of butchers and people related to the business said that large herds of yaks and sheep used to be brought here from Baroghil and goats from Badakhshan area of Nuristan province by livestock farmers.

Didar Khan, an Afghan butcher in the local market, said that the farmers of both the areas used to herd their yaks, sheep and goats to Chitral twice a year, just before the start of winter and summer seasons, and would purchase commodities of daily use here. However, they have now found new destination for higher profits.

Kausar Ali Shah, a development worker from Yarkhoon valley flanking the Baroghil area, said that the farmers of Baroghil had found a new market in Gilgit. He said that the proximity of Ishkoman valley of Gilgit-Baltistan to Baroghil was yet another factor which took only 12 to 14 hours, while it took for the famers over four days to reach Chitral.

He said that the beef of yak was being sold at Rs700 to Rs800 per kilogramme in Gilgit, while in Chitral it would attract only about Rs280. Also, the transportation cost is too low in case of Gilgit. He said that commodities of daily use were available at cheaper rates in Gilgit-Baltistan than Chitral and it lured the farmers to change their destination.

He said that the sheep of the valley were taken to adjacent Afghan area where they were sold at a price thrice that of Chitral market as its wool was used in carpet industry.

Mr Shah said that no farming was possible in Baroghil area due to its extreme climatic condition and the only source of sustenance for the local people was cattle farming.

Mohammad Hussain, former councillor from Gobor area, said that stability in Afghanistan and high price of mutton in Afghan cities had stopped the farmers of Badakhshan from coming to Chitral. He said that the price of mutton in Chitral market was between Rs400 and Rs450 per kilogramme against over Rs1,000 in Afghanistan.

Haji Afroze, a butcher in Atalique bazaar, said that it was the day of the yore when the local market used to remain packed with the meat of yak, goat and sheep. He said that presently the main source of meat in the local market was buffalo brought from Punjab. He said that the supply from Punjab was also affected when Lowari Top road was closed for traffic in winter.

He said that there was acute shortage of mutton in the market, also because people of Chitral had given up livestock keeping at the time when herds of animals were brought from Badakhshan and Baroghil area.

Published in Dawn January 12th , 2014

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