Kashmir’s mutton industry registers Rs 400 Cr loss

SRINAGAR — With no let-up in tussle between the government and mutton dealers over the rates, Kashmir’s mutton industry has suffered a cumulative loss of Rs 400 Crores in the past four months.

The dealers opine that the marginal loss on daily basis is Rs 3.20 crores.

All Kashmir Wholesale Mutton Dealers Association (AKWMDA) President, Mehraj-ud-Din said that Kashmir was consuming almost Rs 4 Crore worth mutton a day.

“The mutton (outside livestock) was being consumed at the cost of Rs 4 Crore a day before the tussle, but now the meat consuming has declined by at least 80 per cent,” he said, adding that in last four months, the people affiliated with the trade have suffered a marginal loss of Rs 15 Crore, saying that the sale loss is too much high.

He added that only 20 percent meat is being consumed across Kashmir on a daily basis due to the prevalent situation, which continued from November last year, when the government fixed fresh rates and asked the mutton dealers to sell mutton at the rate of Rs 480 per kilogram.

He said that comparing the previous figure, the mutton dealers are suffering 80 percent losses per day, which is Rs 3.20 Crore on a regular basis.

“From Rs 4 Crore daily, the market has reduced to just Rs 80,000,00 per day across Kashmir,” Mehraj said, adding that these losses are not expected to end until and unless the rigid policy towards the mutton dealers comes to an end.

Amid prevalent situation, the estimated sale and profit loss to the mutton dealers in a month is Rs 96 Crores.

“We could have done a business of nearly 400 Crore during these months, but have been deprived. The losses, if we look, are very much high. We are being pushed to the wall as our EMIs of banks and other things are being deducted with no business at all,” he said.

Notably, the government and the mutton dealers on February 27 held a meeting to discuss the issues. However, the meeting failed to end the deadlock as the mutton dealers continued to press for a hike in the rates, which was increased by the government from Rs 480 in November 2020 to Rs 515.

Director Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), Bashir Ahmad Khan wasn’t available for the comments.