Cheap rams as Mauritania celebrates Eid-El-Kabir - Mauritanians celebrated the Eid-El-Kabir festival on Sunday against a background of a fall in the price of rams, an essential element of the celebration.

To the happiness of consumers and the chagrin of sellers, each ram sells for 30,000 Ouguiya (about US$100), which is relatively affordable and 25-30% cheaper than the prices during the last Muslim feast of Korité, celebrated a couple months ago.

Analysts said the fall in price is due to the abundance of rams, since some farmers prefer selling their rams in the Mauritanian market than exporting to Senegal, which entails paying high taxes.

In addition, they said drought in late 2011- due to a low rainfall - may have pushed farmers to sell much of their flock 'for fear of coping with the lack of pasture during the long lean period'.

Pana 06/11/2011