- Title: MALI: High ram prices dampen Eid celebrations in Mali
- Date: 24th October 2012
- Summary: BAMAKO, MALI (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MEN UNLOADING RAMS FROM VEHICLE RAM AT MARKET VARIOUS OF TRADER HERDING RAM VARIOUS OF TRADER HOLDING RAM HERD OF RAM MARKET (SOUNDBITE) (Bambara) ADAMA KONATE CUSTOMER, SAYING: "Currently the sheep are very expensive. But this is a charity event. Therefore it should sell for less sheep everyone can afford and make the sacrifice." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING BY RAM MARKET BOY SELLING PRAYER BEADS BAMAKO STREET SCENES PINNACLE OF THE AFRICA TOWER MONUMENT AERIAL VIEW OF RAM MARKET RAM DEALER SEATED AT HIS STALL RAMS EATING (SOUNDBITE) (Bambara) ALLASANE BA, RAM DEALER, SAYING: "Here I would charge about 80 dollars and above for a ram. I cannot sell it for less. Should I pay more on transportation like about 10 dollars. In addition there are other costs like what we need to feed the animals before the sale." MOUSSA KEITA, CUSTOMER, TALKING TO RAM TRADERS RAMS EATING KEITA HANDING GIVING TRADER MONEY MOUSSA KEITA STANDING NEXT TO RAMS HE BOUGHT (SOUNDBITE) (Bambara) MOUSSA KEITA, CUSTOMER, SAYING: "I am forced to buy two rams, because I have a very large family. But they have become expensive. I spent 225 dollars for both of them." VARIOUS OF RAM AT MARKET
- Embargoed: 8th November 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Mali
- Country: Mali
- Topics: Economic News,Religion,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA3OYX1TQC4SLHLA4HXW1CMGAUZ
- Story Text: Prices of the all important Ram slaughtered to mark the Muslim holiday Eid al Adha, known as Tabaski in parts of West Africa, have skyrocketed in Mali, following unrest in the north.
Livestock traders in Mali's capital, Bamako are busy trying to attract last minute shoppers to pick their rams ahead of the Eid al Adha celebrations.
The festival which marks the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca is celebrated by Muslims around the world and people slaughter sheep, goats and cows to commemorate Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, Ismail on God's command.
This year's holiday will be celebrated between October 24 and 29 but many shoppers are complaining that the high price of sheep has dampened the festive mood.
"Currently the sheep are very expensive. But this is a charity event. Therefore it should sell for less sheep everyone can afford and make the sacrifice," said Adama Konate a customer at the livestock market.
Mali has been in political crisis since March when soldiers toppled the president, leaving a power vacuum that enabled Tuareg rebels to seize nearly two-thirds of the country. But Islamist groups, some allied with al Qaeda, then hijacked the rebellion in the north to impose strict Islamic law.
As a result parts of the country are now affected by rising food prices, collapsed public services and a lack of health care, aid agencies say.
Poor rains last year have also affected the Sahel region which stretches from Senegal to Western Chad. Mali, at the heart of the Sahel has also seen a rise in animal feed as a result.
Insecurity is also still a major problem in the country and some dealers say costs have also gone up because they are risking their lives to transport livestock from occupied areas in the north to Bamako markets in the South.
"Here I would charge about 80 dollars and above for a ram. I cannot sell it for less. Should I pay more on transportation like about 10 dollars. In addition there are other costs like what we need to feed the animals before the sale," said Allasane Ba, a Ram dealer.
About 1 million rams will be slaughtered in Mali during the festivities.
Mali's livestock sector is second to Nigeria in West Africa and also exports livestock to neighbouring countries.
Moussa Keita, a Bamako resident says he has had to sacrifice on some groceries this year in order to afford rams.
"I am forced to buy two rams, because I have a very large family. But they have become expensive. I spent 225 dollars for both of them," he said.
The crisis in Mali has complicated travel, particularly in the north, but the roads south to the coast are unobstructed, allowing free movement of the country's exports.
Africa's top cotton grower is expected to produce more cotton and gold in 2012 than it did last year, helping to accelerate economic growth to around 6 percent and bridge a budget gap left by frozen foreign aid since the coup. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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