March 10, 2004

Prices Of Day Old Chicks Shoot Up in Indonesia

Prices of day old chicks in Indonesia have shot up by as much as 300% following the bird flu outbreak, threatening to bankrupt hundreds of breeders in Yogyakarta.

Heru S. Akhwan, the secretary-general of Yogyakarta Poultry Breeders Association, said on Tuesday that before the bird flu outbreak hit the country, the price of day old chickens stood at Rp 700. "But now, day old chickens cost Rp 2,000 each," he said.

The increasing price of day old chickens has forced 30 percent of the 500 poultry breeders in Yogyakarta into bankruptcy, and others could follow suit if the price continues to rise, he said.

The price increase is due to breeders reducing the supply of day old chickens after the bird flu outbreak.