The costs of Rams get sudden increase annually as Tobaski approaches. As the month of the Eid gets closer, foreign dealers annually import their rams from Senegal, Mauritania, and those dealers from the rural parts of the Gambia and within who also transport their reared rams for sale in the Greater Banjul Area in order to generate income.
It could also be considered by the dealers as their market days, where they intend to go back with good profits after investing for the past eleven months in preparations for the Tobaski sales.
Currently, dealers have started transporting their rams for sale which are already dispersed along the streets of Banjul, the Kanifing Municipality as well in the Brikama Areas. For the past eleven months, the prices for rams would be seen as staying reasonable and much more affordable to buyers, however, the prices become so much higher as the Tobaski feast gets nearby which has been a serious concern to the low-income earners.
As Muslims around the world set to celebrate the day by performing the (Eid) all Muslim elders, likewise, many family members would like to afford the price for a ram for the feast celebration, but unfortunately, get a slap in the face with the high cost of a particular ram.
It is logical that the ram business transactions in the Gambia are operated in a free marketplace, but that should not be an excuse for the high cost of a ram.
The sudden price increment on rams should be a point of concern, especially in the Gambia, there are so many people who would like to buy a ram for the east but could not due to the high cost. What could be the reason for the price increment is it due to the high demand?
In most cases, and due to the high cost of a ram, dealers would eventually transport back their unsold rams and those from our neighboring countries would also export back theirs immediately after the Tobaski celebration.
Considering the cost involved in both the importations and transportation by the local dealers, there should be business plans laid ahead of the Tobaski sales by the dealers to avoid high returns of unsold rams which would also cost a lot.
In order to ensure good sales of their rams, dealers should consider beating down their prices to be able to attract a lot of customers which would eventually earn them high profit.