July 6, 2005

Brunei's small poultry farmers hit by falling chicken prices

A price war in the Brunei chicken industry which would benefit the consumers but badly affect the small chicken farmers is now in session.

The price of slaughtered raw chicken sold to middlemen went down to around $2.20 per kg, while whole chicken was at $3.80 per kg. Whole chicken was priced at about $4.50 to $6 per kg a year ago.

Small chicken farmers say the prices of chicken feed, day-old chicks, medicines and antibiotics have gone up and they will have no choice but to bear these extra costs.

Economists say that the lower price of chicken may be caused by an oversupply.

The price of eggs has in contrast gone up again. A tray of large-size eggs now costs about $5.10, while small ones cost about $4.50 to $4.80 per large tray.