Farmers are resorting to panic sales even as they seek government assistance as the Covid-19 crisis is more widespread than the bird flu outbreak of 2006, which was restricted to western parts of the country.
Farm-gate chicken prices have dropped by about 60% to an average of about Rs 30/kg in south India from Rs 72.50/kg in January after rumours on social media linking chicken consumption with Covid-19.
Farmers are resorting to panic sales even as they seek government assistance as the Covid-19 crisis is more widespread than the bird flu outbreak of 2006, which was restricted to western parts of the country. Chicken prices were lower in other places, too – Rs 30/kg in Raipur and Pune, Rs 35 ..
“Every month, farmers have been accumulating about 20% to 30% unsold inventory. At some places, where farmers are unable to handle the huge inventories, have no place to keep unsold birds and cannot afford to feed them, panic sales have started. Farmers have sold chicken at Rs 15/kg to Rs 20/ kg at many places in desperate sales,” said PG Pedgaonkar, general manager at Venky’s, a poultry processing company.
Chicken demand and prices typically drop in March due to exams and some Hindu fe ..
