Kashmir’s mutton industry suffers Rs 400 cr loss in 4 months

Srinagar, Mar 4: In the wake of the tussle between J&K government and Kashmir’s mutton dealers over retail prices, mutton industry in Kashmir is estimated to have suffered a cumulative loss of Rs 400 crores in the past four months.

Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), 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 dealers estimate that the marginal loss on daily basis is Rs 3.20 crores.

“Various mutton products worth Rs 4 Crore a day were being consumed before the tussle, but now the meat consumption has declined by at least 80 per cent,” he said, adding that in the last four months, the people affiliated with the trade have suffered a marginal loss of Rs 15 crore, saying that the sale loss is much higher.

He added that presently only 20 per cent of the original consumption 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 kg.

He said that comparing the previous figure, the mutton dealers are suffering 80 per cent 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 lakhs per day across Kashmir,” Mr Mehraj said, adding that these losses are not expected to end until and unless the ‘rigid policy towards the mutton dealers will come 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 not 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 his comments. —(KNO)