Bani Yas market offers livestock at fair price

The market is expected to cater to the demands of consumer for meat during the holy month of Ramadan at a guaranteed “fair price”.

Abu Dhabi - Over a thousand livestock including sheep, goats and camels were being sold at Bani Yas livestock market, which was opened by the Abu Dhabi Farmers’ Services Centre (ADFSC) for the first time this Ramadan.

The market is expected to cater to the demands of consumer for meat during the holy month of Ramadan at a guaranteed “fair price”. It has 100 pens (enclosure for keeping livestock) in total, with approximately 1,000 animals for sale.The camels, meanwhile, are being sold directly by the Emirates Future Company.

Open daily, from 7am to 9pm throughout the month of Ramadan, the market provides an opportunity for ADFSC members and livestock breeders to sell their sheep, goats and camels directly to customers.

“Our aim is to support livestock breeders in the emirate and give them the opportunity to sell their products to customers directly, especially on occasions when demand for meat increases, such as Ramadan and Eid Al Adha” said Ahmed Al Suwaidi, ADFSC communications manager.

ADSFC ran its first livestock market four years ago during Eid Al Adha.

“Based upon the success of the livestock market during Eid Al Adha in previous years, both consumers and livestock owners are using the Bani Yas livestock market. There is also an increase in demand for livestock over festivals such as Ramadan giving confidence to sellers,” Al Suwaidi told Khaleej Times.

According to him, the attraction of the market is its “fair price”.

“Transactions are agreed between the buyer and seller without the help of a mediator. This prevents wholesalers profiteering from high demand and guarantees a fair price to local livestock sellers,” Al Suwaidi explained.

Both the buyer and seller can also complete the sale with no commission paid to ADFSC, generating greater income for local farmers. However, livestock yards are provided for a “symbolic” fee with a single barn accommodating approximately 50 heads of cattle or 10 heads of baby camel.

“ADFSC’s role is to strengthen the position of local produce and confirm its competitiveness in the market in support of food security,” Al Suwaidi stressed.

According to the ADFSC, the Bani Yas livestock market follows strict safety and animal welfare requirements. Regular veterinary checks are performed by the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) while butchery at the Central Slaughterhouse (adjacent to the market) is performed to municipality standards. -olivia@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• UAE