July 27, 2007

Indian chicken prices fall 20 percent a day after bird flu announcement

Chicken prices in India fell by more than 20 percent in Delhi's wholesale market just a day after bird flu has been confirmed in a poultry farm in north-east India.

Egg prices in Barwala, a leading trading centre of eggs in north India, fell 5 percent.

The drop is expected to influence prices in New Delhi, the capital as well. In Delhi, egg prices were steady, but rates are expected to decline 6 percent by Friday (July 27) in wholesale markets.

Spooked by the 20-percent drop in prices just a day after the announcement of bird flu, poultry farmers fear it may not end there.

The industry is anxious to announce that the bird flu outbreak was in a remote part of India that would not affect other areas.

The poultry industry said bird flu would not affect domestic prices of chicken and egg in most of the major consumption centres in the north and other areas. However, egg exports would likely be affected.