With the rise in feed prices and adoption of expensive latest machinery, retail prices of poultry products are on the rise  Poultry farm owners have been adopting new technology in order to cope with the increasing demand for poultry products, which includes broiler and eggs. With the usage of new machinery, total cost of production has increased, which is hurting poultry farm owners. According to a poll conducted by Retailing360, 100% of the respondents felt that increase in production cost is the major reason for rise in retail prices of poultry products.In this context, Uday Singh, director of Vijay Raj Poultry Equipment Pvt Ltd, a leading poultry equipment manufacturer in Hyderabad, says, “Poultry farm owners are now utilising latest machinery available in the market to improve the quality standard of poultry products. Although production cost has increased, usage of modern machinery has helped in lowering cost of maintaining manual labour.” Therefore, Mr Singh expects retail prices of poultry products to stabilise gradually in the coming days.
While speaking to a Retailing360 correspondent, Anil Dhumal, president of Indian Poultry Equipment Manufacturer Association (IPEMA), comments, “Production costs have been increasing due to rise in feed prices. This year prices of maize and soyabean have increased. As a result, poultry farm owners are left with no other alternative but to purchase the feeds at high rates, thereby passing the same onto consumers.”
Impact on consumers
It must be noted that due to rise in production costs, retail prices of poultry products have been revised in the national capital. Consumers are now shelling out Rs 75-80 per kg instead of Rs 58-62 per kg to purchase live broiler. Eggs prices have also risen from Rs 2.40 to Rs 2.58-3.50 per piece.
Although retail prices of poultry products have been increasing in the domestic market, poultry farm owners are optimistic that sales of these products would remain unaffected due to high consumer demand. Now, most health conscious consumers prefer to purchase high quality poultry products due to its high nutritional value.
Sabrina Mitchell |
