Chicken cheaper as demand falls

Srikakulam: Chicken price falls drastically in Srikakulam district in the last one week. In the wake of auspicious Sravana masam and spreading of seasonal diseases consumption of chicken fell across the district.People are not interested to consume non-vegetarian food as it is a holy month as per Hindu religion. Most of the people particularly women perform pujas and offer prayers.

Highlights:

• Sravana masam affecting sales
• Seasonal diseases also a reason for fall

In July, skinless chicken price was Rs 200 per kg, with skin Rs 180 and live was Rs 160. Chicken prices started falling slowly and it was reduced to Rs 100 per kg for skinless, Rs 80 for per kg of with skin and Rs 70 per kg for live. In all, 20,000 chicken shops are there across the district, including small shops and renowned Suguna, Vencob, Sneha, Srinivasa and Vizianagaram Hatcheries. About 30,000 poultry farmers are supplying broiler hens to shops across the district regularly.

On Sundays about 1.40 lakh kgs of chicken is being consumed across the district now it fell to one third as a result price also fell.

“There are three main reasons for reduction price of chicken is Sravana maasam, seasonal ailments, heavy production, less demand and unhealthy competition between the poultry companies”, said Poultry and Broiler Farmers’ Association district secretary P Venkateswara Rao. Association district president Babu Rao and vice- president Krihnama Chary expressed similar opinion.

By Ch Lakshmana Rao