Traders in Kohima flout meat prices fixed by KMC

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Aug. 25 (EMN): Nagaland has entered the fifth month of lockdown — swapping between total and partial — which began in the second half of March.

Nagas’ love for meat, and its high demand with low supply, has resulted in a surge in the prices of several livestock.

Local residents have taken to slaughtering pigs and charging a hefty price of INR 400 per kg, as the import of pigs has been banned by the state government after cases of African Swine Fever were reported in the neighbouring states.

On Tuesday, when Eastern Mirror went around some markets in the state capital, it was found out that a kilo of beef costs INR 250; broiler chicken INR 180 per kg; layer chicken INR 240 per kg; felister chicken 210 per kg; kroiler chicken INR 250 per kg; ‘pani haas’ INR 500 per piece; and local chicken cost INR 1000 and INR 800 per piece for big and small sizes respectively.

Meanwhile, when this newspaper contacted the Kohima Municipal Council (KMC), it informed that the earlier fixed rate is still in force for all commodities.

It may be recalled that the KMC had issued a fixed rate on June 11: broiler – INR 160 per kg; layer – INR 240 per kg; kroiler INR 250 per kg; ‘pani haas’ INR 450 per piece; local chicken- INR 450 per kg, among other livestock prices.

An official from KMC also reiterated that the price of beef is INR 190 per kg and pork, INR 220 per kg, although there is no more supply of pork owing to the ban.

Asked about the hike in rates, several traders maintained that some of the transporters were charging more, and that drivers and truck owners were ‘demanding more in view of the abnormal situation’.