KIGALI, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Scarcity of beef which has hit various towns in eastern Rwanda affected Muslims who celebrated Eid al-Fitr Friday, marking the end of Ramadan.
This follows last week's ban on cattle movement in the area due to outbreak of livestock disease Rift Valley fever.
Rwanda's ministry of agriculture and animal resources banned movement of livestock including cattle, goats and sheep in three districts of the east including Kirehe, Ngoma and Kayonza in a bid to contain the spread of the disease.
The ban effectively affected slaughter houses.
Isidori Gafarasi in charge of livestock in Rwanda Agriculture Board in the Eastern Province of Rwanda Friday acknowledged the scarcity of beef, but said the ban which sparked scarcity was put in place in the interest of livestock farming in the country.
He reiterated that livestock farmers need to seek veterinarians whenever their animals show signs of the disease such as fever, high temperatures, reduced milk, general weakness, and bleeding.
Butchery operators told Xinhua the ban has led to the scarcity of meat in the three districts, forcing many people to remove meat from their menu.
Juma Nsengimana, a Muslim faithful who hails from Kayonza district told Xinhua that Kayonza, Kirehe, and Ngoma towns all suffered this scarcity as there was no slaughter of animals.
Nsengimana said capable Muslims Friday resorted to chicken but the scarcity of meat drove chicken prices to abnormal prices.
A hen which normally cost 4.6 U.S. dollars was on Friday sold at 9.3 dollars, he said.
A butchery attendant in Kayonza town said they missed out a chance to cash in on the celebrations but they have to uphold the ban.
The disease outbreak was first reported among livestock farmers in Ngoma, Kayonza and Kirehe districts toward end of May this year with local officials and farmers reporting that it had killed more than 100 cattle in a period of about three weeks.
Rift Valley Fever is a viral disease of cattle and sheep which is spread to livestock through the bite of infected mosquitoes during years of heavy rainfall.
