Andhra Pradesh: Heatwave hits chicken prices

Vijayawada: Chicken prices are burning holes in the pockets of non-vegetarians as the prices crossed Rs 200 on Saturday and skinless chicken was being sold at anything between Rs 246 to Rs 256 per kg in Vijayawada on Sunday. 

The prices of chicken has been increasing for the past two weeks.

Meat sellers are claiming that heavy temperatures across the state is the reason for the high prices. 

The searing heat is affecting the poultry sector and if the heatwave continues, chicken prices are likely to further increase, said a chicken shop owner, C.H. Sambasivarao. 

He said that for the past one week supplies from poultry farms have reduced creating a gap between demand and supply. He said it is a common phenomenon during the summer.

Jasti Ramesh, who owns a poultry farm at Gannavaram, said that 30 per cent of chickens that weigh more than one kg have died in the past three days due to the heatwave. 

The poultry farms have incurred huge losses with the birds dying, he said. 

“As the temperatures are soaring, we are transporting the birds only after 10 pm by covering the vehicles with wet mats. Even after taking such measures, the birds are dying in large numbers,” he said.

“As the adult birds, on which we the poultry farmers have already invested heavily, are dying we have no other option but to increase the prices to minimise the losses,” said Mr Ramesh. 

Now the prices of chicken are directly proportional to the temperature and we hope the monsoon will come early this year, he added.