January 11, 2012

India: Chicken sales affected by Filariasis serum fear

Chicken sales in Kerala, India, plunged by 30-40% last month after a campaign against chickens injected with the Filariasis serum. 

PV Unni, a Kochi-based wholesale dealer of chicken, says that during the Christmas–New Year festival, duck is the preferred item followed by beef and pork. For years, chicken is the most preferred meat in Kerala during Christmas. But as sales declines, prices too have fallen to INR60 (US$1.15) per kilogram against INR80 (US$1.53) per kilogram last season. During the Christmas season in 2009, chicken price ruled at INR100-110 (US$1.91-2.10) per kilogram, he said.

Chicken injected with the serum gets the maximum weight within just three weeks, which otherwise would have took three months. In districts like Kasargode, Kannur and Kozhikode in the northern part, some chicken outlets have already been closed, Business Standard reports.

The anti-poultry campaign has seen a rise in the fish prices, which have increased 20-30% during last several weeks. Fish, especially Seer, is now in good demand across the state and the average price has increased to INR400 (US$7.64) per kilogram from INR350 (US$6.69) some two weeks ago. Paul Babu, a fish trader based in Munambam, says that fish is in good demand now and the prices have increased during the last three to four weeks.

Even Mackerel, a common fish in Kerala, is now priced at INR120 (US$2.29) per kilogram from INR90 (US$1.72) a few weeks ago. The only item, which has a consistent price tag, is the Indian Sardine, which is commonly available at INR20-30 (US$0.38-0.57) per kilogram.

The demand for live duck too has increased, especially in the central districts like Ernakulam, Kottayam and Alappuzha. In most paddy fields of these districts, duck farming businesses are very active.

The price of a single duck, which weighs 1.5 kilogram on average, is INR200-220 (US$3.82-4.21) from INR180 (US$3.44), compared to four months ago.