VISAKHAPATNAM: Meat-lovers in the state will have to shell out more on chicken as the price of broiler chicken touched Rs 210 a kg in retail market on Wednesday. Just 10 days ago, the price hovered between Rs 140 and Rs 150 per kg. Poultry businessmen predict that the price would increase further in the coming weeks due to increased gap between demand and supply.
Dressed chicken now costs between Rs 210 and Rs 220 per kg, while boneless chicken costs Rs 300 at retail markets in the state. Live bird is being sold at Rs 100 to Rs 120 per kg. Not just in Vizag and Vijayawada, the prices have risen in many parts of the state. The supply of chicken has been affected by the increase in cost of production and less supply from producers due to the assumption that the business might be dull after Dasara festival.
“Poultry farm workers have reduced the production by not sending eggs to hatcheries for incubation and they started selling the eggs to consumers, expecting poor business. However, the consumption of chicken has increased in AP and Odisha due to dip in temperatures, due to which chicken has turned dearer,” said M. Janaki Rao and P. Seshagiri Rao, poultry businessmen.
The usual monthly consumption of broiler chicken is around 20 lakh kg, both in Vizag and Vijayawada. But, the supply is around 15 lakh kg.
Maize is the main raw material for poultry farmers and its cost is as much as Rs 18,000 per metric tonne and soya also touched Rs 35,000 per metric tonne. “The very high production costs have made poultry farming an unviable business and some producers have cut down supply,” said K. Koteswara Rao. “The prices would stabilise by November,” he added. “A few days ago, broiler chicken was cheaper than some varieties of fish. Now buying chicken, the common man’s supply of nutrients, has become a costly affair,” said K. Trinath, a regular chicken buyer.
