The blistering sun barely bothered 60-year-old Alemneh Eshetu as he strolls from one vendor to another looking to buy an affordable chicken. With his red coat and hat to cover the inferno, he paces around with 1,000 Br in his pocket, expecting to secure a small-sized chicken and some butter to cook it with.

His limitations made him haggle with every vendor. He came out unsuccessful. The smallest chickens were selling for 1,000 Br. "It’s an unbearable price," he said, feeling like his wallet had shrunk.

He settled down to leaving the market with just a kilogram of butter (lega qibe) for 800 Br and throwing his other plans out the window. Alemneh lives off a 3,000 Br pension and some support from his children. It is all insufficient, especially where his severely eroded purchasing power makes it nearly impossible for him to sustain a living.

"I am unable to afford anything anymore," he said.

Shola Gebeya around the Megenagna is unmistakable for its pungent odour and the cackling of chickens bundled in baskets, only to be pulled out and marketed at every would-be buyer. Shoppers size up the chickens, only to swiftly leave when hearing the price.

Discouraged salesmen like Shiferaw Tesfa, who brought 250 chickens primarily from Wolaita, West Shoa Zone, and Hareri Regional State, was only able to sell 20 chickens in a week. "Most buyers hear the price and shy away," he said.

In this Christmas holiday market, the price of chicken hovers from 1,000 Br to 1,500 Br, showing a slight surge from the previous major holiday—the new year holiday in September—where prices ranged from 800 Br to 1,400 Br. Vendors blame inflated feed prices and transportation costs.

Eggs from local breeds fetch 16 Br in the market, leaving many to resort to the less flavourful foreign type sold at 12 Br in bid to save. A kilogram of butter (lega qibe) shot up by 100 Br in just the past two weeks, fetching 850 Br for varieties brought over from Wellega and Gojam zones.

On the other side of Addis Abeba, Qera has become a transformed market arena after the corridor development project wiped out marketplaces that buyers were accustomed to. Sheep traders have been exiled, making the once active market area feel blazingly quiet. This has cast a sense of dread over the Qera market this Gena holiday season.

The massive development project, which began several months ago, has displaced 18 sheep sellers. Two vendors were forced to relocate their sheep flocks to the corners of the market, facing decreased visibility and potential loss of customers.

Zeid Ahmed, 33, crammed 150 of his sheep into a narrow space. Despite efforts to secure temporary holiday selling grounds, he was unsuccessful, leaving him to settle his flock in an area used for other purposes. "We had to beg property owners just to settle here," he told Fortune.

"I haven't been able to sell anything as my sheep are not visible," Zeid mutters, gesturing to his flock. "We have been left hanging.”

While officials acknowledge the need for a temporary market, they maintain that providing a permanent solution falls outside their jurisdiction. Samuel Yohannes, head of the Nifas Silk Lafto district’s wereda 05 office, explained that his office has actively worked to accommodate vendors during the holiday season, looking to ensure a smooth market experience. He admitted, however, that finding suitable spaces for sheep and goat vendors has proven challenging, as many potential locations have been allocated for development projects.

“We did what we could to provide temporary spaces,” Samuel told Fortune. “The rest is beyond our mandate.” He emphasized that lobbying efforts are the only recourse for securing permanent spaces that can effectively support the needs of the vendors.

With selling spots diminished, the price of sheep has exhibited a moderate increase from September with prices ranging from 7,000 Br to 30,000 Br, up from 5,000 Br to 20,000 Br from the last holiday.

In contrast, the bovine market situated a short distance away appeared to be faring better. Its location, further removed from the main road, had shielded it from the disruptive impact of development-related demolitions. Under the scorching midday sun, dozens of bovines leisurely strolled on the muddy ground.

Cattle from Harer, Wellega, Jimma and Bahir Dar were sold at increased prices for higher-end stock, fetching between 45,000 Br and 300,000 Br. The last holiday’s prices were from 55,000 Br to 200,000 Br.

Vendors such as Bekele Eshetu eagerly wait to talk any customer that may glance it his 15 bovines that he attractively lined. Bekele attributes the surge in bovine prices to inflated logistics costs. He pointed out that drivers charge 90,000 per truckload, as they claim to have to pay unofficial fees at various checkpoints, especially on the roads in Amhara Regional State.

"I was forced to halve the number of cattle I brought to the capital’s market," he said.

At a distance, 33-year-old Abinet Shumete hops from vendor to vendor, haggling for hours for better prices. With a 90,000 Br budget contributed by six people, he struggled to find something suitable as the cattle type he had in mind are quoted at 130,000 Br. "We didn't agree for this," he said thinking of where else he could try.