GUWAHATI, July 10 � The All Assam Poultry Farmers and Traders� Association today appealed to the government to secure the interests of the local poultry farmers and constitute a price fixation committee to determine the prices of poultry.
In view of the recent staggering hike of broiler chicken in the market, the association insisted that the government form the price fixation committee at the earliest to bring matters under control. However, the association pointed out that while determining the price of broiler chicken the authorities need to study a lot of factors, including the cost of production of per kg of broiler chicken, the current price of chicken feed, the transportation cost, etc.
�The way the Kamrup district administration has fixed the price of broiler chicken speaks of a conspiracy to harm the interest of the local poultry farmers. As of date, the production cost of per kg broiler is not less than Rs 83. So the poultry farmers have to sell the broiler chicken at Rs 91. The traders have to bring the broilers from the farms to the market and hence the wholesale rate is Rs 100 per kg. Now if we add the cost incurred by the retail traders, the rate of broiler chicken should be Rs 120 per kg,� said the association, expressing dismay at the price of broiler fixed by the Kamrup district administration.
The association said that Rs 100 fixed by the Kamrup district administration has pushed the local poultry farmers into a state of panic because if the rate is not reviewed they will incur immense loss.
The association said the price of live broiler chicken should be fixed at Rs 120 per kg and everyone should abide by this rule.
�The government should now and then make an assessment of the market conditions and review the price of broiler chicken,� stressed the association.
It needs to be mentioned here that the demand for broiler chicken per day in the State is 350 metric tonne and its demand in the capital city is between 50 to 60 metric tonne per day.
The association said that the high demand for poultry has created employment opportunities for thousands of unemployed youth in the State.
Observing on the recent price rise of broiler chicken, the association said that the gap in demand and supply led to such a condition. �Last year, the broiler industry suffered loss and that�s why at the national level some measures, like restricting the production of hatching egg, were taken. The heat spell and diseases also affected the supply of broiler chicken,� said the association.
On the other hand, the association insisted that the government take steps to check the unscrupulous activities of a section involved in the industry and instruct the traders to sell the chicken in a hygienic atmosphere.