Bengaluru is witnessing an unprecedented spike in chicken prices, with rates crossing the Rs 300 mark for the first time. A confluence of factors, including increased consumption, extreme weather conditions, and rising feed costs, is driving the surge. Vendors anticipate further price hikes in the near future.
Skinless chicken is currently retailing between Rs 300 and Rs 350 per kilogram, compared to Rs 220-280 just weeks ago. Broiler chicken with skin is selling for Rs 280, up from Rs 200-220.
At the wholesale level, live chicken prices range from Rs 156 to Rs 157 per kilogram, while retail prices hover between Rs 180 and Rs 200.
Poultry farm owners attribute the price surge to extreme heat, which is adversely affecting chicken life expectancy and consequently reducing supply.
S R Kumaraswamy, owner of Karthik Poultry Farm, highlighted that about 30% of chicks are dying within two weeks of birth due to their inability to adapt to extreme temperatures. This has disrupted the normal growth cycle, resulting in insufficient chicken supply.
Vendors corroborate the significant price surge, with one remarking that prices have skyrocketed like never before. Another predicts further increases in the coming week.
Satish Babu, Mysuru Zonal Chairman of the National Egg Co-ordination Committee, highlighted the impact of both high temperatures and viral diseases on chicken mortality rates. He noted that the prices of essential feed ingredients like maize and soya have also risen sharply.
D K Kantharaj, former chairman of Karnataka Co-operative Poultry Federation Limited, anticipates that prices will only stabilize after 45 days, reflecting the challenges faced by the poultry industry in balancing supply and demand amidst adverse conditions.
