Fish |
Following a ban on
the sale of meat in Nebbi Municipal Town due to the outbreak of foot and
mouth disease, the demand for silver fish and beans has gone up.
The ban has given fishmongers opportunity to exploit the customers by hiking the price of their commodities.
Ms Irene Ongom, a
vendor who deals in silver fish, said can now sell at least two or three
basins of silver fish daily since the outbreak was announced last week.
Before the meat
sale ban came into effect, a plastic cup of silver fish cost Shs800, but
now it is sold at Shs1,500, almost double the price. The market price
of one piece of small fish before the ban was Shs2,000, but it has
skyrocketed to Shs4,000. Big fish such as angara that used to be sold at
Shs15,000, now goes for Shs25,000.
"I pray hard that
the ban should take at least a month such that we make good profits.
Business has been difficult all along for us who sell fish because many
like buying meat. This is a blessing for us in disguise," Ms Ongom said.
The ban
According to the
senior veterinary inspector north-western region, Dr William Abedkani,
officials are restricting animals movement to control the spread of the
disease.
He added that the
outbreak, which that started in Mbaro West village in Nyaravur
Sub-county, has now spread to Atego Sub-county because there were no
control measures.
He added that the
disease has spread to the nearby districts of Zombo, Pakwach and some
parts of Arua District bordering Nebbi District, thus the ban on the
sale and movement of animals.
Dr Abedkani said
the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry has sent 3,000 dozes of
vaccines for massive vaccination against foot and mouth disease in the
district.
The Nebbi municipal
health inspector, Mr Herbert Kadhumbula, warned butchers against
illegal sale of meat, which is against the laws and warned that anyone
found selling illegal meat would be prosecuted.
"We were supplying
the entire town with meat but now there is ban on the sale of meat,
where will our customers buy from? Even the nearby districts of Zombo
and Pakwach are affected. This is a tragedy for us," Mr James
Olwormungu, a dealer in meat business, said.
According to Nebbi
Butchery Association chairperson, Mr Leonard Jachan, their business and
livelihoods have since been affected because they do not have
alternative sources of income.
"Most of us have
been operating business with money obtained as loans. This now is going
make repayment of these loans difficult. Some may end up being pushed
out of business or will even have their household items confiscated," he
said.
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