KATHMANDU, Aug 19: The Food Management and Trading Company (FMTC) has begun internal preparations to purchase 1,347 goats and 148 mountain goats for the upcoming Dashain festival. Each year, the company buys goats and mountain goats to help control market prices and prevent black-marketing during the festive season.
Starting a month before Dashain, the FMTC collects goats and mountain goats from various districts and sells them from Thapathali and other outlets in Kathmandu. CEO Ramesh Acharya said the procurement process, worth about Rs 47.7 million, is underway. Of this, Rs 30 million has been allocated for goats and Rs 17.7 million for mountain goats. This year, the company will also enable customers to buy goats online.
FMTC to sell goats and mountain goats for Dashain at lesser pri...
Acharya stated that online sales would help attract customers and allow the company to increase supply if demand rises. However, the number of goats and mountain goats being brought for Dashain this year is lower than in previous years.
Last year, the FMTC decided to purchase 1,800 goats and 300 mountain goats, but it ultimately bought 1,400 goats and 300 mountain goats from various districts and sold them through its Thapathali provincial office. Prices last year were set with a Rs 10 discount: goats at Rs 660 per kilo and mountain goats at Rs 1,220 per kilo.
