Chicken prices skyrocket to Rs220/kg

Hot weather reduces life expectancy of chickens, resulting in decrease in supply.

FAISALABAD:

The price of chicken meat has increased to at least Rs50 to Rs60 per kilogram as a result of a shortage of broilers in the city.

Market research revealed that at least 250,000 broilers were being supplied to the city on a daily basis – a number which had reduced by 125,000, resulting in a substantial decrease in chicken meat.

Within a week, chicken meat prices have soared to Rs200 to Rs220 per kg, which was previously available at Rs150 per kg.  According to market sources, prices will continue to witness an upward trend.

During extremely hot weather conditions, they said, the life expectancy of broilers decreases remarkably. This in turn, results in huge losses to poultry farmers and they are faced with no other option, but to shut down their sheds.

Sources dealing with livestock and poultry also said that due to the summer season, and hot weather conditions, approximately 150 poultry sheds had been shut down by their owners.  In addition, seventeen hundred open sheds had been shut down.

Sources claimed that there will be signs of normality in the market by August 15; however, prior to that, prices of poultry meat will remain high.



Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2011.