Some sellers of chicken, turkey and ducks in Kaduna are lamenting low patronage of their birds ahead of the Eid-El-Fitr festivity.
The sellers expressed their concern in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Kaduna.
They said that the development was worrisome, but hoped that patronage might pick up after payment of April salary to workers.
A NAN correspondent who visited popular bird markets at Kantin koli section of Kaduna Central Market, sighted a handful of customers pricing the birds.
Mr Kabiru Yunusa who sells chicken told NAN that prices of the birds had remained stable, yet patronage was still unimpressive.
“A chicken, depending on the weight, is sold between N2,500 and N4,000.
“Layers are sold for as low as from N1,500 to N2,000, while broilers are sold between N2,500 and N4,000,” Yunusa said.
Jamilu Abubakar who sells chicken and turkey, told NAN that he had sold some chickens, but was yet to secure a buyer of turkey.
“Turkeys are more expensive as a sizeable one, depending on its weight, costs between N9,000 and N15,000.
“Usually, customers troop in even a day to the festivity, so, we are still expectant,” he said.
Another chicken seller at the Kaduna Central market, Jalo Madibo, attributed the poor patronage to workers who are yet to receive their monthly pay.
“The market is usually a beehive of activities as soon as salaries are paid to public and private workers.
“We have not witnessed any increase in the price of the birds because of the Ramadan fast.
“Prices of chicken range from between N3,000 and N4,000, while for turkey, N7,000 and N12,000 ,” Madibo said.
Mr Yakubu Jibril, a civil servant, who sells chicken from a local poutry at his resident in Barnawa, told NAN that he was yet to get reasonable patronage, in spite of advertising his chicken on the social media.
“I believe I will sell off my birds a day or two before Sallah because my price is reasonable compared to other sellers,” he said.
“I sell a seven-month-old chicken for N3,000 and others as much as between N4,000 and N5,000,” Jibril said.
Another civil servant, resident at Kurmin Mashi area, Mr Nasir Mohammed, told NAN that the harsh economic reality in the country had forced some families to contemplate going for alternatives such as fish and beef.
Mohammed said that in Islam, there was no restriction to which animal to eat during any festivity.
“People are expected to provide for themselves and their families, depending on their financial strength; it could be chicken, turkey or even ducks,” he said.
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