ALAPPUZHA: The merchants have refused to sell chicken at the government-fixed price of Rs 87per kg and have decided to sell meat at Rs 157 per kg. The Kerala Poultry federation has also asked all stalls not to sell live chicken. S.K. Nazeer, general secretary, All-Kerala Poultry Federation, said that they would not sell chicken below Kepco rate. “If Kepco reduces the rate, we will also cut it,” he said.
“Finance Minister T.M. Thomas’s argument is that we have to cut the tax from the retail prices after GST. But in Tamil Nadu, the rate of a chicken is over Rs 100. The price may come down next month when the off-season begins. The demand for chicken in the state will also come down in the month of Karkidakam. So the prices may fall, but not to Rs 87per kg,” he said. As many as 40,000 chicken shops are functioning in the state providing employment to 10 lakh people. At least 22 lakh kg chicken is being sold daily.
