PUNE: Following hike in prices of chicken and eggs, mutton prices have also been going up for the past two weeks due to a spike in demand and supply shortage in the market.
Usually, mutton price per kilo is around Rs 400. It has now increased to Rs 550-600 per kg in the retail market. Low supply of goats from Karnataka and Beed, Ahmednagar, Solapur and Karjat has hit the retailers.
Ali Sheik Jumani, owner of Ali Mutton Centre in Shivaji Market, said, “Prices have been soaring for the past two weeks. We are selling mutton in the range of Rs 580 and Rs 590 per kg. There are 150 shops in Shivaji Mutton Market. We usually sell 100 kg of meat every Sunday. But due to less supply, the sale decreased to 60 kg last Sunday.”
Usman Rustam, owner of Rustam mutton centre in Shivajinagar gaothan, said, “Several sheep and goats died in heavy rainfall. It has hit the supply of goats. Therefore, there are less goats in the export market. I have been contacting my distributor in Chakan to send me more goats as there has been high demand.” He said they have limited stock in the main market.
Customers earlier bought mutton at Rs 400 per kg. However, they are buying it less quantity or they are not eating it at all for the past two week.
Minali Ghosh, a resident of Baner, said, “I have not eaten mutton for a week now due to high prices. I have either preferred to eat chicken or eggs, which is affordable and comes in large quantity.”
RETAILERS HIT
Low supply of goats from Karnataka and from districts such as Beed, Ahmednagar, Solapur and Karjat has hit the retailers.
