Price of fresh chicken may go up: Poultry farmers

• Says price would increase during upcoming festive season

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama   

The All-Island Poultry Farmers’ Association (AIPFA) said yesterday that the price of fresh chicken would increase during the upcoming holiday season.   

AIPFA Chairman Ajith Gunasekara told the media that the long weekend and the upcoming New Year’s season would drive the demand for chicken higher.   
“Therefore, we are doubtful whether we would be able to cater to the demand. The retail price of chicken in the local market will depend on distribution according to demand.   
“There is an adequate supply of deep-frozen chicken in the market, which has already been distributed to supermarkets.   

“The issue is with providing fresh chicken to the market. The production of fresh chicken is done by small and medium producers. The price of a kilo of fresh chicken will vary according to the stock received by the market.   

“We expect the price of a kilo of chicken to increase to an amount between Rs. 1,200 and Rs. 1,400,” Gunasekara said.   

However, the association requested poultry traders not to increase the price of fresh chicken at this juncture, stating that they should consider the plight of the consumers who have now lost their normal buying capacity due to the current economic crisis.   

Therefore, Gunasekara urged the poultry traders to sell their products at the most economical prices possible so as to satisfy the consumers.     

•  The retail price of chicken in the local market will depend on distribution according to demand