Sale exceeds Rs 5 crore in Ettayapuram goat market

The weekly Saturday goat market in Ettayapuram in Thoothukudi is famous among goat and sheep farmers and among traders in southern districts as some of the best livestock in the southern districts can be purchased from there. Both wholesale and retail trades were carried out in the market and traders from neighbouring districts flock the market for buying goats and sheep.

Pongal is not just associated with making Pongal, offering prayers and eating sugarcane, but also for mutton consumed on the third day of Pongal, called ‘Kari naal,’ meaning ‘Black Day’ in Tamil. Last year the goat and sheep market witnessed a gloomy sale because of demonetisation and drought, but this year there was good rainfall and so the sale was brisk, said a farmer.

The market commenced at 6 am and went on till 12 noon. During the six hours more than 5,000 goats and sheep were sold and the total sales crossed Rs 5 crore. The prices of goats and sheep varied from Rs 6,000 to Rs 15,000, depending upon the variety and size.

Mahesh, a trader from Kovilpatti, some 20 km away from Ettayapuram, said that on usual Saturdays not more than 1000 goats and sheep would be sold but on Saturdays before Deepavali and Pongal the sale of goats and sheep would peak. He had purchased 20 sheep.

Chevaadu, Arichevaadu, Karunchevaadu, Ramanathapuram Vellai, Vempur, Tiruchy Black, Pattinam Aadu, Katchakatti Aadu, Kanni and two varieties of Kodi Aadu, black and other colours, were the goat and sheep varieties commonly sold in the market.