Like 2010 and 2011, the animal traders of Karachi visited rain/flood-affected areas of interior Sindh and purchased a large number of animals from the rain-victims at very low prices, Business Recorder has learnt on Friday.
The rain/flood affected people, who are already suffering from colossal losses of millions of rupees on the account of destruction of livestock, again fell victims to the greed of animals traders. This year, a large number of cattle traders from Karachi rushed to the rain affected areas to purchase cattle from the flood victims at cheaper rates.
According to sources in the Livestock and Fisheries and Relief departments, people from Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Khairpur Mir’s, Kashmore-Kandhkot, Larkana and others rain-affected areas have registered complaints in this regard at various offices of the said departments.
It may be noted here that recent heavy spell of late-monsoon rains broke 25 years record in six districts of province of heavy downpour. The rains/flood badly affected almost 19 districts including Khairpur Mir’s, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Sukkur, Jacobabad, Kashmore-Kandhkot, Shahdadkot-Qambar, Dadu, Naushehroferoze, Benazirabad, Matiari, TandoAllahyar, Hyderabad, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar and Umerkot.
Sources told Business Recorder that the Livestock & Fisheries and Relief departments had received complaints that traders from Karachi had rushed to these areas which have been badly affected by recent heavy rains to purchase cattle from the rain-affectees. According to report of Relief department, more than 2,000 cattle-heads have been washed away during the recent heavy rains/flood.
However, more than 0.1 million cattle-heads including goats, buffaloes, calves, cows, sheep and others died or washed away in rain and flood of 2011. Millions of rain-affected people who even don’t have food for survival are compelled to sell their animals at very cheap rates. According to some complaints, traders are purchasing goats, buffaloes, calves, cows and sheep from people who are still living in camps, sources said.
Thousands of people out the total 0.2 million, who are still living in camps and have cattle-heads, were concerned over the health and shortages of fodders for animals because livestock department has not done nothing to save cattle-heads, sources said. Complaints mentioned that traders took special interest in purchasing of goats and calves. Before the rains, the price of normal goats were about Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000. Now, people are selling these goats for 10,000 to 15,000 only. Traders are purchasing calves for about Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000, while earlier their rates were about Rs 25,000 to Rs 35,000. As the farmers are facing crises following the heavy rains, they are compelled to sell their cattle at very low price.
