Agenda | Jan 01,2022
Unsurprisingly, Qera was not its usual self during this Easter holiday. It was not empty, but neither was it filled to the brim with buyers the way it typically is during holidays.
Like most things, it has been affected by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic rocking most of the world, and the chief indication of this were the individuals in protective gear that sprayed cattle with disinfectants. Before they were led into their enclosures, the cattle were also made to walk on sacks dipped in disinfectant.
Neither were buyers spared the precautionary measures. They were asked to keep their distance from each other, ideally two metres, and were strictly required to wear face masks.
To the traders in Qera, the fall in demand was clearly visible, in stark contrast to the end of the previous fasting seasons. There was more movement than has been the case in the past few weeks, but that activity has not reached the marketplace as many continue to stay home. As devastating as the social distancing measures to the sellers have been, the public's hesitation to eat raw meat, an Ethiopian delicacy popular during Easter, has done even more to make the cattle less desirable.
As a result, in a country that has seen double digit inflation rates for the last two years, meat markets saw a freeze in the prices of sheep and cattle, the latter fetching between 15,000 and 50,000 Br since Gena, the Ethiopian Christmas holiday.
The same phenomenon has been witnessed at markets across the city, which typically see vibrant business activity during holidays. It was striking to many to see the normally bustling Shola market receive only a smattering of customers, those willing enough to venture out to buy holiday essentials. Just like Qera, depressed demand meant that the price of eggs and chicken remained either the same or fell since the last holiday.
“I was in for a surprise,” said one buyer that was able to find chicken on the market for 100 Br less than she did during Gena.
You can read the full story here
PUBLISHED ON
Apr 17,2020 [ VOL
21 , NO
1042]
Agenda | Jan 01,2022
Fortune News | May 07,2022
Radar | Feb 01,2020
Fortune News | Jun 15,2019
Agenda | Apr 17,2021
Radar | Jun 12,2021
Radar | May 13,2023
Agenda | Sep 10,2022
Radar | Jun 25,2022
My Opinion | Nov 20,2021
Feb 24 , 2024 . By MUNIR SHEMSU
Abel Yeshitila, a real estate developer with a 12-year track record, finds himself unable to sell homes in his latest venture. Despite slash...
Feb 10 , 2024 . By MUNIR SHEMSU
In his last week's address to Parliament, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) painted a picture of an economy...
Jan 7 , 2024
In the realm of international finance and diplomacy, few cities hold the distinction that Addis Abeba doe...
Sep 30 , 2023 . By AKSAH ITALO
On a chilly morning outside Ke'Geberew Market, Yeshi Chane, a 35-year-old mother cradling her seven-month-old baby, stands amidst the throng...
Apr 13 , 2024
In the hushed corridors of the legislative house on Lorenzo Te'azaz Road (Arat Kilo)...
Apr 6 , 2024
In a rather unsettling turn of events, the state-owned Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (C...
Mar 30 , 2024
Ethiopian authorities find themselves at a crossroads in the shadow of a global econo...
Mar 23 , 2024
Addis Abeba has been experiencing rapid expansion over the past two decades. While se...