People are buying more fish than chicken this xmas.

Chicken sellers in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, on Tuesday complained of low patronage, and blamed the development on the nation’s economic reality. Most people who wished to celebrate Chritmas reportedly went for fish.

A cross section of the sellers who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria also identified the delay in payment of workers’ salary as another contributory factor for the low sales.

Mr Jimmy Adams, a poultry farmer, said he was yet to dispose half of his birds, adding that the lingering economic situation in the country had affected every business.

According to him, there is also low patronage from eateries and restaurants, and that the experience is quite different as only individuals patronise them.

He told NAN that a broiler was sold for N1, 200 and N2, 000 while turkey went for between N7, 000 and N14, 000, depending on the size.

A chicken seller at the Kafanchan market, Alhaji Yusuf Barde, who also complained of low patronage, said that the price of a local bird remained between N800 and N1, 500.

A customer, Mrs Martha Philip, who described prices of chicken as “considerate”, however, complained of low cash flow.

Meanwhile, as the chicken sellers bemoaned low sales, their counterparts in fish business described patronage of their product as “good.”

A fish seller, Mrs Abigail Musa, who declined to state her sales per day, attributed the high patronage to “customers desire for a change’’.

She said, “Fish is a good alternative for those who cannot afford chicken or beef.”

Malam Abdulkadir Mohammed, a fish seller near NEPA roundabout, said he recorded more sales during Christmas as he was patronised by hoteliers and operators of relaxation spots.

“A lot of pepper soup sellers buy fresh fish from us. We sell off all our daily stock,’’ he said.

He said that cat fish was sold for between N800 and N1, 500 while tilapia sold for between N1, 000 and N2, 200, depending on the size.

-punch