Prices of all kinds of chicken have dropped by as much as Tk 30 per kg in the capital’s kitchen markets compared to their prices two weeks ago as the high temperature is forcing poultry owners to clear their stocks.
Poultry firm owners and breeders said the ongoing sweltering heatwave had come as a curse for the sector, as chickens tend to die in a greater number on excessively hot days. The situation has forced many to sell their chickens at lower prices.
Broiler chicken is currently being sold at Tk 135 -140 per kg at local retail shops in Dhaka. The price was Tk 150-160 a couple of weeks ago, just before Ramadan.
Broiler chicken is being sold at Tk 135-145 a kg, instead of Tk 160 that was the price two weeks earlier, in different kitchen markets in the city.
On the other hand, the price of layer chicken is Tk 190-220 per kg, Pakistani chicken Tk 220 per kg and the price of the Sonali variety is up to Tk 260 a kg, based on the size.
The cost of domestic chicken has been quite stable at Tk 430 to 460 a kg for the last couple of weeks, and traders see no possibility of an increase in price very soon.
Alam Uddin, the owner of Shokal-Shondha store at Mohakhali kitchen market, said he used to sell 600 chickens per day, but now sells only 300 chickens due to the ongoing pandemic.
“I used to supply 300 to 350 chickens regularly to some nearby hotels and used to deliver to wedding ceremonies. But wedding ceremonies are not being held now and hotels are closed because of the lockdown. Sales are therefore declining comparatively,” he said.
Another seller, Mohammed Sumon, said he has a poultry farm in Narsingdi that is run by his family. “So, we have an option to sell broiler chickens at a low price.”
“We are doing this considering the month of Ramadan, the heat and the convenience of customers. We keep the price range steady at Tk 130- 135 a kg, whereas other traders sell broiler chickens Tk 140 – 145 per kg,” he added.
Consumers seem to be somewhat relieved because of the price decline, and they think the price should be even cheaper.
A customer at Mohakhali kitchen market told The Business Post that the price of chicken should go down more while purchasing a Pakistani variety chicken at Tk 220 per kg.
“It seems quite costly to me,” he said.
Mohammed Rakib, a customer at Shukrabad kitchen market echoed his expectations.
However, prices of different types of chicken are likely to increase before Eid-ul-Fitr, according to sellers.
Mohiuddin, a trader at Shukrabad, said his business was doing well.
“The number of customers has increased at my shop as the prices of chicken declined,” Mohiuddin said.
Shobuj Ahmed, who sells Sonali and Pakistani chicken at Rajabazar on a van, said his sales were not well due to the low price of broiler chicken.
A customer at Rajabazar, Shuruj Ali, said he was very happy because of the price drop. “I’ve bought six kg of broiler chicken as the price has gone down,” he said.
He expected that the prices would remain stable in future.
However, according to the president of Bangladesh Poultry Owners’ Association Moshiur Rahman, the demand for broiler chicken had declined 40 to 45 per cent due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We will appeal to the government to support traders by keeping specific allocation in the upcoming budget so that they could overcome their losses,” he added.
