 "Poultry prices fall on lower demand amid bird flu scare")
Recent bird flu scare has led to decline in poultry prices by up to 15% in the last two weeks.
Data compiled by the independent agency papaak.com revealed that the retail value of broiler chicken has reduced by 15% in Gulbarga, Karnataka, during the second fortnight of October due to lower consumption. Following the trend, broiler chicken price fell by around 10% in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam and is currently retailing at Rs 86 per kg. In north Indian states, however, the decline recorded was around 9%.
The decline, however, is in contrary to the normal trend. During winter season, poultry prices usually shoots up. The bird flu scare, which started about two weeks ago with the death of some birds in Delhi followed by fear of its spread in other states, led to the decline in poultry consumption over the last two weeks.
"After a steep fall, prices of poultry products have started recovering in some centres in the last couple days. In some centres, however, impact of bird flu continues to prevail in major sensitive states including Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana," said Ramesh Khatri, President, Poultry Federation of India.
"We have just come out of a religious month which normally witnesses lower consumption of poultry products. With the winter season started already in some parts of the country, consumption of chicken and eggs has also begun to rise. The decline in poultry price is a short term phenomenon which would overcome soon. We expect consumption of chicken and eggs to bounce back in the next few days," said Balram Yadav, Managing Director, Godrej Agrovet Ltd.
While the consumption of poultry products has declined in the last two months, it has partly attributed to the to the fall in feed prices as well.
Bajra price, for example, in Delhi has averaged at Rs 1356.54 a quintal for the last 15 days, a decline from Rs 1369.17 a quintal average price before that.