By Keshab Raj Poudel, Kathmandu, Oct. 19: The Food Management and Trading Company (FMTC) has determined the rate of goats being sold from the company. The company has decided to not sell mountain goats this year.

Shri Maniraj Khanal, departmental chief of FMTC said that according to the meeting held on Sunday, the company decided to sell live goats at Rs. 550 per kilogram (kg). The consumers are given a discount of Rs. 10 per kilo, he added.

The company on Monday started selling goats from Thapathali at Bagmati Zonal Office of the then Food Corporation.

The price was determined in coordination with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.

It is expected that the government-specified price would aid in regulating the market price of the live goat and goat meat.

The FMTC is preparing to sell 1,007 goats in the first phase in the Kathmandu Valley for which, 405 goats have already been brought to the Valley as of Monday. The company had decided to bring 600 goats from Dang and 400 from Hetauda. "The remaining goats will arrive within two days," said Khanal.

He added that additional goats would be brought on the basis of demand in the market.

"This year, the government is selling live goats despite bearing loss, in order to provide relief to the consumers to some extent. The goats are being sold in lesser rate than the buying price," added Khanal.

Currently, live goats are being sold at Rs. 800 per kilo and mountain goats are being sold at Rs. 50,000 in the Valley and other districts.