By
Chedar Charles, GNA
Dorimon (U/W), Sept. 19, GNA – Goats and sheep
sellers in Dorimon market on Tuesday expressed worry over various challenges
impeding their business in the Upper West Region and called for government
intervention to address the problems.
Dorimon is a town in the Wa West District with
a well-structured market where buying and selling of goats and sheep is one of
the lucrative businesses.
Mr Alawmini Dumba, a goat business
entrepreneur, told the Ghana News Agency that when it got to the raining
season, prices of the domestic animals decline, impacting negatively on their
profit margins.
He said during that time farmers would not
allow the animals to move freely to feed because the owners are compelled to
tether and prevent them from destroying farm crops and so they lose weight.
“We do not also get buyers from other regions
especially the southern part of the country, we only get buyers from Wa and
other smaller towns, and because of that our expectations do not yield any good
results,” he said.
“We do not also have comfortable place to do
our business although we are inside the market, we conduct our trading under
trees and this is not helpful when the rains set in, goats do not like cold and
fall sick when the rains set in”.
Mr Alhasan Bamasah, another entrepreneur,
described the goat and sheep business as very lucrative but many challenges are
impeding its smooth operations.
“I started this job since 2008 till date and
I’ve gained a lot from it. This is what I have been doing for survival – taking
care of my family and paying my children school fees,” he said.
Mr Bamasah expressed disappointment that he
and his colleagues would trek long distances to several villages to buy the
animals but would not get buyers to buy in bulk when transported to the capital
town, Wa.
“Only two buyers came from Wa today and this
is not encouraging,” he said.
“If we can get more buyers from various
regions, it will help improve the price and grow the business,” he said.
“We want the authorities to give us safe
places to trade and also need financial support from government to expand the
business in Dorimon market and nationwide”.
GNA