Kozhikode: The firm stand taken by the finance minister T.M. Thomas Isaac has brought the chicken traders of the state to fall in line. They decided to sell live chicken at Rs 87 per kg as he insisted. The traders were on a state-wide stir after the government fixed the rate factoring in the zero tax under the GST regime. After talks between Mr Isaac and leaders of Kerala Chicken Dealers’ Association and All-Kerala Chicken Merchants Association, they expressed willingness to accept it for the time being. The price of processed chicken would be Rs 158.
Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi president T. Nazeeruddin also met the minister, who told reporters that the traders would start selling chicken at this rate from Wednesday. “This price-fixing will not be a permanent system,” he said, adding the government would take a pro-active role in the poultry industry intervening in the process. “The present production capacity of government run hatcheries is only 700, 000 a year which would be increased within four months to one crore.” The government would ensure that the state-run hatcheries produce at least one-third of the total need of the state.
