Prices of chicken and eggs have gone down by almost half owing to the holy month of Shravan. Poultry experts claim the prices are the lowest recorded in the city and country in the last few years.
During Shravan, considered as a holy month according to the Marathi calender, people avoid eating non vegetarian food items, thus affecting the poultry industry to a large extent.
Dressed chicken, earlier priced at Rs 154 per kg, has now come down to Rs 97 per kg in the retail market whereas live chicken which was sold at Rs 125 per kg is now being sold at Rs 81 per kg. Poultry farmers too, are facing huge losses owing to Shravan month. They used to get Rs 97 per kg for the birds but now they get only Rs 53 per kg for live birds.
PG Pedgaonkar, general manager of Venky’s, a poultry processing company, told Hindustan Times, “Usually, during Shravan month, the demand comes down by 30 to 40% thus, directly affecting the price of chicken and eggs.”
Pedgaonkar also accepted that this year, the dip in price was drastic compared to the years before. He said that the daily requirement in Maharashtra was 10 lakh of which 40% demand was from Mumbai city alone. Pune’s average daily demand was 1.5 lakh birds which has come down by almost 1 lakh birds in the last few days due to Shravan month.
{{/usCountry}}Pedgaonkar also accepted that this year, the dip in price was drastic compared to the years before. He said that the daily requirement in Maharashtra was 10 lakh of which 40% demand was from Mumbai city alone. Pune’s average daily demand was 1.5 lakh birds which has come down by almost 1 lakh birds in the last few days due to Shravan month.
{{/usCountry}}Raju Bhosale, retail shop owner from Yerawada who also owns a poultry farm, said, “Usually the demand for chicken drops in the first two weeks of Shravan month. However, after two weeks, the demand gradually increases. Though people do not purchase chicken individually, they go to restaurants instead to eat non vegetarian food. The demand from restaurants starts thus, increases after two weeks.”
Bhosale added that north Indians also follow Shravan but, their holy month ends earlier which helps increase the demand in Mumbai and Pune.
Deepak Chavan, expert from poultry sector, said that though the poultry production was mainly in rural areas, the consumption was concentrated more in Mumbai, Pune and Nashik. Mumbai and Pune consume half of the daily poultry production, he added.