Despite making all the efforts to improve the conditions of the sheep rarer, the import of the sheep and goat continues in the state of Telangana. The consumption of mutton, like liquor is on the rise in the state.
The consumption of beer, Biryani is on he rise every day in Hyderabad and across Telangana.
With the increase in meat consumption in the state, 8,000 sheep are being imported to Telangana every day from Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. 5,000 sheep are coming to the Jiaguda market in Hyderabad alone.
The gap between supply and demand is likely to widen further in the future. The gap between demand and distribution has widened as the number of sheep in the country has not increased, mutton rates have risen, the number of mutton eaters has increased and consumption has increased.
Consumption is rising at the same rate as meat prices are skyrocketing. This is a strange situation in the state in terms of mutton consumers. The price per kilo of mutton ranges from Rs 750 to Rs 800.
When the Telangana government launched the sheep scheme in 2017 to achieve self-sufficiency in meat production, the price of mutton was Rs.500 per kg.
This means that despite the increase in the number of sheep in the state in three years, prices have risen by 50 per cent. The inability of the state government to control prices and 99 per cent of the 3.5 crore population in the state being non-veg eaters are cited as reasons for the increase in mutton consumption.
Mutton prices are expected to touch Rs 1,000 in the next two years. According to the recommendations of the National Nutrition Institute, a person should eat 12 kg of meat per year.
But it two to three times more. Biryani is the minimum needed for any party. Mutton biryani is the most popular dish in Hyderabad and across Telangana.
