An increase in supply is expected to keep tabs on prices of livestock during the festive season.

“Goat imports from India resumed on Tuesday after a months-long hiatus with livestock traders hauling 150 live goats through the Krishnanagar Customs after passing quarantine checks,” said Banshi Sharma, director-general of the Department of Livestock Services. “Imports had fallen to nil in the past five months with the strict enforcement of quarantine measures but the situation has been eased ahead of Dashain.”

Earlier, the livestock traders had warned of a possible price hike citing a shortage of goats.

To receive the quarantine certificate, importers need to vaccinate the goats against goat-pox, foot and mouth disease 21 days before importing the livestock from India and only after veterinary approval.

According to the ministry, Kathmandu witnesses a demand of 50,000 goats, billy and mountain goats during the week-long Dashain festival. As per the supply plan of the ministry, 51,000 goats will be available for trade this year.

As per the supply plan, Hefier International is expected to supply 5,000 goats through associated cooperatives. Federation of Livestock Entrepreneurs is expected to supply 13,000 goats and independent traders are expected to haul 15,000 goats.

Also, the state-owned Food Management and Trade Company estimates to bring in 2,500 goats and 2,500 mountain goats. And the independent livestock farmers from the upper hills are expected to sell 8,000 mountain goats to the company.

Goat markets will be set up at Kalanki, Balaju, Pharping, Sanga, Jagati, Tokha, Tukucha and Sitapaila.

“The federation has started supplying goats from Friday and will continue to trade goats till Fulpati, the seventh day of the festival,” said Shyam Kumar Pokharel president of the Federation of Nepal Livestock Entrepreneurs. “The federation has mobilised its personnel in supply zones across the country to coordinate with the livestock farmers to ease the demand.”

“We have fixed the price at Rs600 per kg for live goat,” said Pokharel. “There is no reason to hike the price on the pretext of shortage.”

Goats are being supplied from Taplejung, Shankhuwasabha, Ropla, Rukum, Mustang, Salyan, Pyuthan, Dhangadhi, Jhapa, Morang, Panchthar, Bara, Khotang districts, among others. And the ministry is deploying additional resources at quarantine checkpoints at Bhalubang in Dang, Rampur in Chitwan, Pathalaiya in bara as a safe-side measure.