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Chicken gets dearer in Chandigarh as temperature soars
The price of broiler chicken, which had gone up to around ₹180 per kg in March, has now reached between ₹250-260 per kg at retail shops in Chandigarh amid soaring temperature. The wholesale rate is around ₹240 per kg.
While the temperature continues to soar, chicken supply has been affected in Chandigarh, leading to an increase in the price of broiler meat. The retailers say that low supply is to be blamed, while poultry farmers say that supply has been affected due to the heat.
They added that it may take until the start of monsoon for the prices to come down.
The price of broiler chicken, which had gone up to around ₹180 per kg in March, has now reached between ₹250-260 per kg at retail shops. The wholesale rate is around ₹240 per kg.
During winters when consumption is the highest, the price had gone up to ₹220 per kg last year.
After bird flu outbreak in January 2021, when the birds were culled, a rise in rates was witnessed. In March 2021, the retail price had gone up to ₹240 per kg.
Speaking about this, Ashok Nagpal, a meat retailer in Sector 21, said, “During the peak summer season, the price for chicken goes up even as demand is lower. It takes time to prepare broilers in May end and in June. Extra water and feed is needed which has affected the supply.”
He added that prices will stay high until monsoon starts and the current heat wave doesn’t subside.
President of the Sector 21 meat market association, Ashish Kumar said, “Usually in summers, there is a shortage in supply and the same is happening this year. While prices are on the higher side, even last year, they were around the same during May end.”
Chandigarh gets a major chunk of its poultry supply from Barwala. President, the Haryana poultry farmers’ association, Barwala Darshan Singla said, “Supply has been affected due to the heat. Mortality of chicken increases greatly these days and the price of bird feed has also increased significantly, impacting poultry farmers here.”
After the economic impact of the two lockdowns, the number of poultry farmers in Barwala has also reduced from over 150 to around 110, which has also affected supply as per Singla.
“During Navratri and the month of Ramzan, the egg consumption had reduced. It still hasn’t picked up and we are losing a lot of money in this,” he said and added that the price per egg should be at least ₹5 per egg for them to see any profit while currently, it is around ₹4 per kg.
