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Meat price skyrocket at Christmas

Shoppers browse the selections at M&T Meats in Hawkinsville, GA. M&T Meats is a family-owned operation that also raises their own hogs for the market.

The price of meat has increased to between 11,000/- to 12,000/- per kilogramme as forecasted a few weeks ago, tipped the price to go until January next year.

The continuing rise in meat prices has been caused by the sharp demand in this festive season by which at this time the price has skyrocketed compared to the previous holidays.

A survey conducted in various meat shops in Dar es Salaam shows that the retail meat price has increased to at least 12,000/- per kilogramme from 10,000/- a week before Christmas.

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The meat prices at Vingunguti and Pugu wholesale shops have increased to between 8,000/- to 9,000/- per kilogramme from 7,500/ for first-grade meat.

A butcher in Gongo la Mboto area, Mr John Mkaongo said the price rise has been attributed to the high demand for meat especially during this holiday season though he admitted that the price is hurting the consumers.

“It is now costing 12,000/- per kilogramme. People buy since they have option… though many buyers are complaining,” Mr John said.

A meat seller in the Vingunguti area, Mr John Lucas said the price has increased due to the current high prices in the cautions of Pugu, Ruvu, and Rufiji resulting in the sharp rise.

“When you buy a cattle costing 1.2m/-, if you sell at 8,000/- per kilogramme, it won’t give you a profit. You have to sell at a wholesale price of between 8,700 to 9,000/-,” he said.

Furthermore, Mr Tieto Elia, a meat dealer at Vingunguti stated the reason for the continuing price rise is highly caused by high demand from the consumers since many people tend to buy meat during holiday eve.

“The demand for meat has increased. It is a holiday eve, many people eat meat”, Mr Tieto said.