December 5, 2006

Indian chicken and egg prices rise 15-20 percent

Prices of chicken and eggs in India look set to rise this winter as wholesalers purchased poultry at Rupees 50-55 per kilogram (US$1.12) compared to Rupees 41-43 (US$0.91) last week.

The sudden hike in prices is being attributed to the rise in wholesale prices in the capital's poultry market in East Delhi's Ghazipur area.

Chickens, sold at 100 rupees per kilogram (US$2.24) across Delhi, is slightly more expensive as retailers claimed greater hygiene for their prices.

According to the Secretary of the wholesale market, K C Gautam, the rise in price of chicken is due to a tightening of supplies during winter and it being the season of marriage celebrations.

A trader at the Ghazipur wholesale market revealed that the neighbouring districts were unable to cope with the sudden increase in demand due to the harsh winter, which affects chicken rearing and egg laying operations.

The price of boiled eggs, a favourite winter snack, has risen 40 percent from 2.50 rupees to 3.50 rupees.

India is the second largest egg producer and the fifth largest producer of broiler in the world.

India's main egg-producing states are in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka as well as the north-western regions of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Delhi and Punjab.