May 5, 2004

Cambodia Poultry Price Up Following End Of Bird Flu

The prices of chickens and eggs have risen sharply in recent weeks in Cambodia. This is an indication that more consumers are shaking off avian influenza fears and beginning to purchase poultry again.

At the height of the bird flu scare, some vendors sold only one to five kilograms of chicken a day at around 1.75 US dollars per kg. Currently they sell at least 50 kg a day at about 2.25 dollars per kg. The Cambodia Daily reported on Tuesday.

Although the price of poultry is rising, it is still not at last year's level, when a kilogram of chicken sold for between 2.75 dollars and three dollars.

Chicken sales fell sharply in January after bird flu spread across the region. The ban restricting poultry from Vietnam and Thailand is keeping supplies low as demand increases. However the government said it would not lift the ban until it is sure that the neighboring countries are bird flu-free.

The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed the most recent bird flu case on April 9. Birds on family farms in Kompong Cham and Takeo provinces had tested positive for the illness.