Now Reading: Poultry prices ease on Shravan demand dip but feed costs pinch farmers
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Poultry prices ease on Shravan demand dip but feed costs pinch farmers
Egg and chicken prices have fallen from recent highs as the Shravan fasting period curbs demand, with broiler chickens selling at Rs 90, 95 a kg and eggs at Rs 6, 6.50…
Egg and chicken prices have fallen from recent highs as the Shravan fasting period curbs demand, with broiler chickens selling at Rs 90, 95 a kg and eggs at Rs 6, 6.50 per piece wholesale ex-farm. At Namakkal, India's poultry hub, an egg cost Rs 5.20 on Monday, down from Rs 6.80 in mid-July.
Despite the seasonal dip, farmers are losing 50, 60 paise per egg because feed costs have jumped 40, 60 per cent. Maize and soybean meal, which account for 65, 70 per cent of production costs, have surged sharply this year, keeping overall prices above last year's levels.
Industry bodies say prices will rise when Shravan ends. A second demand lull is expected during the Tamil month of Purattasi. The Indian poultry industry, valued at $30 billion, employs 6 million people and produces 149 billion eggs a year. The government faces calls to ensure affordable feed supplies.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The poultry sector is caught between two forces that normally move in opposite directions. During religious fasting periods such as Shravan, demand for meat and eggs falls, yet prices have stayed above last year's levels, which means supply is unusually tight. The reason is feed costs. Maize and soybean meal, which make up 65, 70 percent of production expenses, have surged, driven by upstream supply constraints the government has limited power to fix quickly. The Poultry Federation of India and the CLFMA of India have both flagged that without cheaper feed ingredients, farmers will continue producing at a loss. The Union government's Department of Animal Husbandry monitors feed availability, but no price-control mechanism exists for maize or soya. The next signal to watch is whether the government moves to allow duty-free imports of oilmeals or maize, which is the most direct administrative lever available to ease the crunch before Purattasi starts.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
