June 15, 2004

 

 

Slaughtered Chicken More Expensive In Brunei
 

A new round of increase in the price of chicken in early June has forced chicken farmers to raise the price of slaughtered fowls by 15 cents to BN$4.50 per kilogramme in several places in Brunei Muara District.

 

Chicken feed now costs BN$31.50 per bag, up by BN$1.50 BND from BN$30 a bag at the end of last month. It used to cost from BN$25 to BN$29 a few months ago.

 

A kilogramme of clean slaughtered chicken sold to the public costs BN$4.50. Middlemen buy them at BN$4.20 a kilogramme.

 

The price of chicken varies from one place to another.

 

In the fish market in Gadong, clean slaughtered chicken costs BN$5 a kilogramme.

 

In Tanjong Nangka stalls, it costs BN$4 a kilogramme.

 

This situation is understandable as chicken sellers in Gadong market are middlemen.

 

Vendors in Tanjong Nangka stabs are chicken farmers. Some chicken farmers sell as low as BN$3.80 per kilogramme to middlemen and the public.

 

However, a chicken farmer expressed confidence in the future as the relevant agency has indicated to chicken farmers to suggest a price, so the department could think of a fixed price for a kilogramme of chicken.

 

It is meant to control the price of chicken based on the current price of chicken feed, production cost, as well as farm and retail profits.

 

The proposed ceiling price is to protect both the consumers and chicken farmers in addition to creating a win-win situation for both sides, where such ceiling price should not allow for chicken farmers to suffer losses.

 

"We have not proposed a price because the price of the chicken feed keeps increasing.

 

"But one thing for sure, medicine for live fowls is no longer supplied free by a relevant agency commencing June," the farmer said.

 

(BN$ = Brunei Dollar)