The price of chicken has gone up in Hyderabad due to the high demand for the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr festival. This increase in prices is likely to affect the budgets of families celebrating Eid, as the cost of poultry has risen significantly over the past two weeks.
Many people have started shopping for groceries for Eid and have noticed a sharp increase in chicken prices just a day before the festival. The price went up by an additional Rs 50 per kilogram overnight, causing concern for shoppers.
The demand for chicken typically rises during special occasions like Shab-e-Barat and Eid. With Eid approaching on Thursday, the prices have gone up. Live chicken is now being sold for Rs 130-140 per kilogram, meat for Rs 280-300 per kilogram, and boneless chicken for Rs 400 per kilogram in retail markets. This sudden price hike not only strains household budgets but also threatens to dampen the festive spirit of Eid-ul-Fitr.
The recent increase in chicken prices has been attributed to factors like lack of market management, absence of price regulation by authorities, and a shortage in supply. Poultry farmers and supply agents blame the summer season for the price rise, as the low supply of birds during this time leads to higher prices.
Traders point out that the summer months see a higher mortality rate among chickens, causing only large poultry farmers to continue their business while smaller ones avoid losses. Farmers take special precautions like using air coolers to protect their chickens from the heat. There are approximately 10,000 broiler farms in the State, producing around four crore broilers every month. In Hyderabad, chicken supply comes from various districts like Ibrahimpatnam, Kandukuar, Maheshwaram, Kothur, Shamshabad, Sangareddy, Medak, Yadadri Bhuvangiri, and Vikarabad.
