Meat prices likely to soar after Navarati festival

With the BJP coming to power, the supply of meat has been hit hard in Delhi owing to the crackdown on illegal abattoirs and the meat sellers' strike in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.

But, the real impact will be felt only after the nine-day-long Navratra. Industry experts said that the festival, during which Hindus generally abstain from non-vegetarian food, will 'soften the blow' of meat shortage as its consumption comes down by around 50 percent during this period. An official in Ghazipur wholesale meat market said, "Supply of goats from UPr has come to a stop after crackdown on slaughterhouses and the ensuing strike in UP."

Also, the meat wholesaler stated that some suppliers from Uttar Pradesh who have licences to run their business have also stopped sending goats fearing attacks by vigilantes. But, the traders stated that the shortage of meat supply will not affect Delhi till Navratra though marginal increase in mutton prices has been reported in some areas.

According to Vice President of Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India, Garish Oberoi, chicken and mutton supply to the hotel industry has not been affected significantly. "Buffalo meat supply has been hit hard. The impact would taper off eventually as the government, we hope, would take steps to streamline the licensing norms," he said.

Meat sellers of Ghazipur Mandi in East Delhi are anticipating a rise in prices if the strike continues in UP. "As Delhi doesn't have livestock farms, the city only relies on UP, Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana. Earlier, around 20 trucks loaded with goats used to come to Ghazipur Mandi every day from Uttar Pradesh. There has been no supply from UP in the last few days," echoed the sellers.

"We are currently depending on supplies from Punjab and Rajasthan," said Mohammad Atiq, a wholesaler of goat meat. "The real impact of the crackdown on slaughter houses in Delhi will be felt once the Navratras ends," said Mohammed Saleem, general secretary of Ghazipur poultry market association.

"Usually, the demand of goat meat is down around two- three days before the start of Navratra and also during the festival," he added.

Meat sellers, especially mutton vendors, in Uttar Pradesh went on an indefinite strike on Monday against the state-wide crackdown on illegal and mechanised slaughterhouses.

Oberoi, also an executive member of Central UP Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, "The supply has been affected, and in some hotels and restaurants in UP, they have even stopped serving mutton-based dishes."