Prices of sacrificial animals in the TRNC rose ahead of the holiday

On the eve of the holiday in the TRNC, residents are actively asking about the cost of sacrificial animals, but rising prices and declining purchasing power are becoming a serious challenge for many families. Against this backdrop, representatives of the meat industry and livestock sector are assessing the market situation differently.

As stated by the chairman of the Butchers Association, Rashit Şenkaya, the cost of a sacrificial animal this year averages between 25,000 and 30,000 Turkish lira. According to him, the slaughter price has also increased and now reaches 1,000–1,500 lira. Şenkaya noted that the number of citizens able to afford a sacrifice continues to decline, while demand has fallen by about 20–30% compared with previous years.

He stressed that the high cost of meat is directly linked to the country’s economic situation and the sharp rise in producers’ expenses. The head of the butchers also drew attention to the price difference between the north and south of the island. According to him, lamb in the Republic of Cyprus costs almost twice as little as in the TRNC. In this regard, Şenkaya called on the authorities to introduce a subsidy system for local meat in order to support both producers and consumers.

At the same time, the chairman of the Association of Animal Producers and Breeders, Adil Onalt, presented a more optimistic picture. According to his data, the price of a live lamb is 480–500 lira per kilogram, while a live calf costs about 250 lira per kilogram. He said that demand for sacrificial animals this year has, on the contrary, increased by 10–15%.

Onalt noted that citizens have begun to reserve animals in advance, paying more attention to quality and the reliability of suppliers. According to him, unlike in previous years, there have been almost no complaints about sellers this season.

Experts note that the holiday market in the TRNC remains under pressure from high inflation and rising costs, and that further developments will depend on the Turkish lira exchange rate and the cost of feed and fuel.