The price of broiler chicken has increased drastically in the last three weeks in Visakhapatnam city, so meat lovers are now spending huge amount of money to enjoy the chicken.
A kilo of broiler chicken, which was around ₹220 at the end of April, has now increased to ₹312, an increase of about ₹100. It is said to be a record high in recent times. Members of the district’s poultry association attribute the price hike to low production of chicken due to hot weather conditions.
T. Apparao, president of Visakhapatnam Poultry Association, said the heat makes it difficult for farmers to get the required weight of chicken, which is around 2.1 kg, as the chicken intake is reduced due to higher temperatures. It normally takes about 45 days for a chicken to attain the desired weight. But now even after 55 days have passed, the farmers are not getting the required weight of chicken. This is the reason for the low production, he said.
He also said that due to increase in fodder cost, many poultry owners have stopped business for some time in different parts, which is also another reason for low production.
‘little relief’
Mr Apparao said that the recent change in climatic conditions after the fall in temperature due to Cyclone Asani has brought some relief to the poultry owners. “Production has increased in some parts of the district and prices may again see a fall in the coming one to two weeks,” he said.
According to some poultry farmers, around 2.30 lakh birds will be required for three districts – Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli and Alluri Sitaramaraju. Some say that some people, even meat lovers, reduce their consumption of chicken during the summer and prefer seafood.