Bor residents say dollar scarcity worsening meat prices

March 28, 2016 (BOR) – Meat prices in South Sudan’s state capital, Bor is on the rise with a kilogram now at SSP 60 from the initial SSP 40 over the last two weeks in markets.

Manyuon Ayuen, a butcher in Bor, said prices partially increased due to dollar scarcity in the black market coupled with the limited numbers of cattle to be slaughtered.

He said Juba traders came to Bor in large numbers and bought all the animals and transported them to Juba. This, Ayuen said, resulted in the auction price increase in Bor.

“The traders who come from Juba have destroyed the business because they bought bulls at higher prices so what can we do, we if the owners of cows (bulls) increase the prices of bulls then we have to increase meat prices so that cover the gap,” he stressed.

Women in Bor are reportedly finding it hard to purchase meat for meals. As such, many have opted for fresh vegetable available in the open market at certain times of a day.

Abraham Majak, who auctions cattle in Bor told Sudan Tribune that his group normally buys an average bull at SSP8,000 from Duk and sell it at SSP10,000 in Bor.

Prices have doubled to these levels after South Sudan goverment devalued its currency, he added.

(ST)