Chicken price in Kerala falls to Rs 100; may drop further

Adimali: The cost of broiler chicken in Kerala has recently decreased considerably. The price has dropped from Rs 160 two weeks ago to Rs 100 per kilogram now. Traders attribute this decline to a rise in local chicken produce and increased shipments from Tamil Nadu. They also expect prices to continue declining in the coming days.

Previously, even though farm chicken prices were low, retailers did not lower their prices, leading to customer protests. As a result, some retailers in Adimali reduced prices, with chicken selling for Rs 120 in some shops and Rs 99 in certain supermarkets. The sharp price drop has impacted poultry farm dealers negatively.

Currently, agents are buying chickens from farms at Rs 65 per kilogram, the lowest rate in recent times. This low price is due to the large number of chickens on farms. Keeping chickens longer could lead to increased feed costs. With more chickens being raised and piling up on farms, prices have dropped unexpectedly. The rainy season is beneficial for chicken growth, increasing their weight. Traders predict prices might rise again only around Onam.

A large number of chicken shops are operating in tourism centres, including Munnar, but the number of visitors has decreased sharply over the past two weeks, leading to a 50% drop in chicken sales. Many large hotels, which previously purchased 300 to 400 kilograms of chicken daily, are now closed. Following the Wayanad disaster, the number of tourists to Idukki has dropped by more than half. The increase in both small and large farms in Kerala has also contributed to the decline in prices.