(ERGO) – Business is looking up in Burao since the livestock market in Togdheer region reopened this week after a two months’ closure due to the drought and the poor condition of livestock.
Over the last three day the Saudi-owned livestock export company Al-Jabir has spent $2.5 million to purchase 48,700 goats. The price of one goat for export sale ranges from $45-$61.
The company exports livestock through the port of Berbera, where there is a facility for veterinary health screening and treatment of animals before being shipped out.
Abdi Elmi Mire, 56, a broker in Burao, which is one of the largest animal markets in Somalia, told Radio Ergo around 1,500 people depend directly on the market.
“For the last two months, these people were idling in the streets and returning home with nothing in their pocket,” said Abdi, who has 16 children.
Abdi could earn up to $200 on a good market day and was able to pay the school fees for 10 children of school age. Now he is planning to repay the money he borrowed over the past two months of market closure to keep his family going.
Many traders and herders are hoping trade will pick up. Exports are likely to rise with demand for livestock in Saudi Arabia over the next three months of Ramadan, Eid and the Hajj.
Khadar Ali Hashi, a broker for Al-Jabir, told Radio Ergo the company bought 18,000 goats on Saturday, 15,500 on Sunday and 15,200 on Monday.
Khadar said only goats in excellent condition were bought for export to Saudi Arabia.
While business is now looking up, there has been a decline in the value of animals over the last three years. Abdi said a good goat fetched $80 three years ago. Prices have dropped due to the conflict in Yemen and economic problems in some Arab countries.
The animals sold in Burao are brought in from different regions across Somalia. Some are sold for local consumption.
