High demand: Rs 250 a Kg of broiler chicken in Andhra, Egg Rs 7 each
By Newsmeter Network Published on 23 Sept 2020 4:33 PM IST
Vijayawada: The consumption of chicken and egg has begun increasing significantly in Andhra Pradesh and it is likely to rise further in the winter season.
Due to shortage of supply shortage and rise in demand, the price of broiler chicken has shot up and the dressed broiler chicken is being sold between Rs 250 and Rs 260 a kg. Similarly, the price of egg has shot up to Rs 7 a piece in the retail market.
The poultry traders say that the price of chicken and egg will further increase due to the widening gap between demand and supply.
In February and March 2020, the sale of chicken and egg dropped drastically following rumours that Covid-19 could spread through consumption of chicken. Then the poultry traders incurred huge loss and were forced to sell chicken at throwaway prices.
Incurring the huge loss in March, many in poultry trade stopped production of chicken and the impact of that step is being felt now. In April, the demand for chicken has increased as doctors suggested chicken and eggs will improve immunity.
In AP, the average demand of chicken and meat is around 8 lakh kg per day but in August, the demand has increased to over 10 lakh kg per day. However, the supply of broiler chicken has come down to 7 lakh kg per day in September and the prices will increase further, said K. Raju, a poultry trader in Vijayawada.
Andhra Pradesh produces over 3.5 crore eggs a day but now, for various reasons, the production has declined and the demand has increased, resulting in a sharp spike in the price of egg to Rs 7 a piece in the retail market.
Moreover, the consumption of chicken and eggs has increased with the hotels and restaurants opening the takeaway and home delivery sections after the pandemic-induced lockdown.
The prices of chicken and eggs have gone up after the restaurants opened the home delivery sections, agreed G. Deepthi, owner of a restaurant in Vizag.Similarly, the price of mutton too is ranging between Rs 700 and Rs 800 a kg depending on the quality. The price of country chicken has also increased to Rs 650 per kg.
