KUWAIT CITY, Sept 6: The repercussions of the COVID-19 crisis continue to have a negative impact on some vital sectors. For instance, the delay in sheep shipment from Australia has sparked an increase in the meat prices in the local market, rendering consumers to avoid buying meat from sheep market and instead resorting to buy in small quantities from butchers in Shuwaikh and other areas, reports Al-Qabas daily.

In the past two days, the sales movement in the sheep market in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh witnessed a low turnout of consumers, given that the market used to witness large crowds at the end of each week prior to the COVID-19 crisis. However, the repercussions of the pandemic continue, delaying the recovery of the market.

Some of the vendors highlighted the lack of occasions now compared to the past, which has led to the reluctance among consumers to buy meat.

Also, some complain about the high prices of the sheep available in the market, but this is expected due to the lack of required quantities entering the market, and the ban on Iranian sheep before the COVID-19 crisis, as well as the absence of widespread demand for Georgian, Somali and Pakistani sheep in comparison to Jordanian, Saudi Arabian, and local breed.

In the same context, a number of consumers stressed the need for effective control of sheep prices in the market including in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, Dhuhr, Jahra and Al-Rai areas.

They said the main reason behind the high prices is the lack of large quantities of Australian sheep reaching the local market, as well as the absence of the desired types of local sheep, and the inadequacy of what is available at times to the desires of the public.

They highlighted that meat is a major item on the dining tables, although recently there has been a tendency to opt for imported fish and local chicken, in addition to chilled meat that arrives from Australia and Pakistan.

They added that buying by kilogram  in most cases is an ideal solution to ensure that pockets are not drained during the current period.