PUNE: For all non-vegetarian food lovers, the first day of the year 2020 wasn’t pleasant as they had to shell out Rs150 to 200 more to buy one kg mutton. Apparently, for over a couple of months the mutton prices have been on the higher side owing to low supply. Currently, mutton is being sold at Rs 600 to 650 per kg.
Iftekhar Patel, a vendor at Shivaji Market, Pune Camp said, “The price of mutton has been fluctuating since a month due to low supply. Since December it was fluctuating between Rs540 per kg to 580 per kg. However, for past two days it has increased to Rs 600 to 640 per kg due to increase in demand owing to New Year.”
He added, “The supply was less for a long time as a lot of animals died due to heavy rainfall and also export of livestock has increased since the international rates became high. This also impacted the domestic supply and in neighbouring states like Karnataka the mutton price is around Rs 700 to 750. Thus people living near the border are buying it from Maharashtra leading to shortage besides increasing the prices (wholesale) from Rs 550 to Rs 620 per kg.”
Javed Masalkar, owner of A-1 Mutton Market, Katraj, said ”Mutton price has risen sharply in the last one month and are different in different areas of the city. Some shops are selling it for Rs 650 per kg, while those who have their own shops and do not have to pay rent are selling at Rs 560 to 580 per kg.”
He added, “Usually we sell 50 to 60 kg mutton daily but on December 31 we sold 100 kg mutton, though the price of mutton was Rs 560.”
“People prefer to eat mutton on the last day of the year and even on the first day of the new year,” Masalkar informed.
The price of fish has also increased in the last one week because of increase in demand considering the New Year celebrations. Ramesh Supekar, owner of Ramesh Fish Traders at Dnyaneshwar Paduka Chowk, said, “The price of fish has increased in the last one week, because of the demand from the people. Similarly, the price of the fish depends on the size of the fish.”
As per the present market price, the Bangda fish cost Rs 200 per kg, while Surmai cost Rs 480 per kg. Pomfret cost Rs 700 to 800 (depending on the size). It shows an increase in fish price by 10 to 20 per cent.”
Masalkar said, “Fishermen’s expenses have increased, petrol and diesel price has also increased. There is less supply and higher demand among fishmongers.”
