Chicken meat price soars to Rs720/kg in Hyderabad

Flour, meat price hikes squeeze household budgets

HYDERABAD:

Following a surge in wheat flour prices, broiler chicken meat has also become increasingly expensive in Hyderabad, with its price reaching Rs720 per kilogram after an increase of up to Rs180 over the past few days.

The continuous rise in wheat and flour prices has been followed by a sharp increase in broiler chicken meat prices, putting further pressure on household budgets and making the staple protein increasingly unaffordable for residents.

Consumers said broiler chicken meat was available at around Rs520 per kilogram just a week ago, but its price has now suddenly climbed to Rs720 per kilogram. Chicken breast meat is reportedly being sold for as much as Rs750 per kilogram.

The steep increase has forced many residents to cut back on their purchases. Consumers who previously bought larger quantities are now purchasing smaller amounts out of necessity.

Meanwhile, there appears to be no effective administrative mechanism in place to control broiler chicken meat prices in the city.

Shopkeepers, however, said poultry farm owners were supplying chickens to wholesalers at high rates based on weight, leaving retailers to add their operating costs before selling the meat to consumers.

Meanwhile, the price of farm eggs also varies across the city, with a dozen being sold for between Rs240 and Rs260, adding to the financial burden on households.