Topic 2186

Duration 3.50 minutes

Baghdad in Iraq

Photo taken on May 20, 2026

Natural sound with Arabic language

Source: Reuters

There are no restrictions.

The story

Iraqis seeking to buy sacrificial animals for Eid al-Adha said that the high prices of sheep make following this tradition difficult for many families.

Buyers in one of Baghdad's markets are looking for reasonably priced sacrificial animals, while sellers say the cost of raising sheep has risen sharply.

Mustafa Ali, while searching for a sacrificial animal, said, "We have to sacrifice every year, we are obligated to sacrifice... The lamb that used to cost 200,000 Iraqi dinars (equivalent to $152.67) is now (around) 600,000 dinars (equivalent to $458.02), or 500,000 dinars (equivalent to $381.68), or 400,000 dinars (equivalent to $305.34). So where are we supposed to get it from? Where is the poor supposed to get it from? I have been carrying 400,000 Iraqi dinars ($305.34) with me since this morning, searching, and I can't find a suitable lamb for 400,000 Iraqi dinars."

Agriculture officials stated that sheep farmers in Iraq are facing increasing difficulties in securing sufficient feed despite improved natural grazing conditions due to a lack of government support.

Officials explained that feed supplies depend heavily on the Ministry of Agriculture, but support has declined in the past few years, leaving farmers unable to meet demand with locally produced barley alone.

Traders said that imported animal feed is now being transported through longer and more expensive supply chains to avoid traditional Gulf routes because of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Sheep seller Ibrahim Nima said, "The reason for the prices and the rise in prices is the feed. I mean, this sheep that was (about) 400 or 350 thousand (between $305.34 and $267.18) became a million. What is the reason? The reason was the feed. A ton of feed (about) 250 thousand ($190.84) became 800 or 900 thousand per ton. This is the reason for the rise. Importers control the market. Barley was available, the farmer's agriculture was supported with gas, chemicals, and everything else."

Traders added that shipments often diverted to routes through Turkey and Jordan before reaching Iraq, increasing transportation costs and causing delays, thus raising prices for buyers and putting pressure on the livestock sector, which already suffers from limited local supplies and little government support.

Seller Hamed Jassim said, "In the old days, I used to sell 100 lambs, but now I can't sell 10 lambs. When a citizen comes to buy a lamb for 100,000 (dinars, equivalent to $76.34), that's perfectly normal. But (at around) 500 (a thousand dinars, equivalent to $381.68), no, many can't buy. I mean, if you calculate, out of every 20 citizens, two of them will buy and sacrifice, while if the lamb is (at around) 100, 150, and 200, and livestock is subsidized, all 20 will slaughter."

Middle East Television Service