Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 26: From the last few days, the price of mutton has been going up. The rate has seen a jump from the earlier Rs 500 to 600 a kg to over Rs 650 now.

Coastal districts are good mutton markets. Ordinary mutton commands Ra 550 to 600 per kg while Bannur special mutton is sold at Rs 650 to 700 per kg. Zakir, a mutton merchant from Udupi, says that the price has remained stable at this level since a week.

In Mangaluru, mutton price rose from Rs 550 to 600 while the Bannur mutton price rose from Rs 720 a kg to Rs 770.

Representational image

Sheep for making the mutton come to the coastal districts from Chitradurga, Maharashtra etc. The sheep of Mandya region command higher prices and there is good demand for them. Bannur special mutton is in high demand. The merchants now say the business is slack on account of the fact that the sheep have to arrive from other districts, steep hike in transportation cost, GST, soaring rentals etc. At the same time, chicken continues to retain good demand. Its rate has not gone down during the last three months. In Udupi, live chickens are priced at Rs 130 per kg while the chicken costs Rs 200 per kg. In Mangaluru, chicken with skin is sold at Rs 180 per kg and without skin is priced at Rs 200.

On account of increased demand, the price of eggs has seen a steep hike. Now, loose eggs are sold at Rs 6.50 apiece, and there are indications that it might go up to Rs 7. It is said that the price went up because of higher demand for making cakes.