By Moses Lokeris
Livestock farmers in Kotido district are crying foul over a drop in livestock prices in various markets, blaming it on middlemen who take advantage of the current food crisis to exploit them.
According to them, they are forced to sell their animals at a giveaway price as they seek to get money for buying food items and other basic needs for their households.
A spot check visit conducted by our reporter, Moses Lokeris, in the markets of Kanawat, Rengen and Lokitelaebu, reveals farmers are struggling to find fair prices for their animals due to the low prices on offer.
In Kanawat Market, one of the biggest markets in the Karamoja region which draws cattle traders from Teso, Bugisu, Jinja, Kampala and Juda in South Sudan among other places, the price of a fattened bull has tumbled to Shs 1.5 million from Shs 3 million.
A heifer, which was sold at Shs1.2 million, is now being sold at between Shs 900, 000 and Shs 800, 000 depending on the size and health condition.
Lotudangoria and Lokiru, among other cattle dealers, told our reporter that the prices are fluctuating every week.
It’s not only cattle prices that have dipped but the prices of goats and sheep have fallen as well, with a billy goat, which was sold at Shs 250,000 now goes at Shs 150,000.
The prices for a doe (female goat) and sheep have drastically dropped to Shs 120, 00 from Shs 150,000 in Christmas festive season, while a ram now costs Shs 180,000 from Shs 250,000
Ngole Lopyo, a cattle farmer attributed the depreciation in livestock prices to poverty and food insecurity being experienced in the district due to the effects of climate change.
Robert Kennedy Okuda, Kotido the District Agricultural Officer, confirmed that a number of households in the district are grappling with a food crisis, which has forced them to sell livestock at a giveaway price.
