PATNA: The poultry prices are shooting up along with the thermometer, putting many fowl eaters in a foul mood. Some buyers, watching the rates per kilo of dressed chicken touch Rs 200 from about Rs 160 in the span of a week have become decidedly chicken hearted about popping a pullet into their shopping carts.

Why the price rise? Simple law of demand, folks! The heat wave is killing off the supply. The ‘broiler’ variety, locally known as ‘farm murgi’ can’t tolerate temperatures higher than about 41 degrees Celsius. Bihar has been reeling under a heat wave. Now unless those chickens are growing up in an air-conditioned coop, they’re going to kick the bucket, and that’s what’s happening across the state.

Our poor local poultry farm keepers, especially the smaller operators, are watching their chickens drop like flies.

Jaydeep Singh Srivastava, owner of a poultry collective at Didarganj, says, “There are 25 farmers working with me and we had around 1.5 lakh broilers. But due to heatstroke, 35% to 45% birds died in the first week of June.” As the heat rises, farm owners are forced to sellchicken cheaper in order to move stocks quickly, however the retailers didn’t drop their prices, and consequently the casual buyers weren’t buying more. Now that the heat wave has reduced the stocks drastically, the farmers, to reduce losses have been forced to put up the price. Now there is scarcity of chicken in the market leading to price rise.”

Mohammad Sabir, a wholesaler in New Market area, spoke of a farm near Bikra, where only 200 out of 2,000 broilers survived. The wholesale price has reached Rs114/kg for undressed chicken which was Rs60 to Rs62. It will increase further because of scarcity.” Individuals buying from retail shop have to pay more. The price differs a bit depending upon where you live.

Kaif, who has a chicken shop at Bankipur, said, “In case of undressed chicken, the cost has increased by Rs20 and selling at RS 125/kg. But for dressed one, there has been an increase of Rs40/kg and I am selling at Rs200/kg.” In Kurji and Patliputra colony, the prices are the same.

But Naveen Singh, who sells chicken at Kankarbagh, is now selling undressed chicken for Rs120/kg and dressed one for Rs190/kg.

Many of these unfortunate chickens die during transportation because proper care is not taken to protect them from dehydration and heat stroke. Indian Veterinary Association (IVA) secretary general Dr Dharmendra Sinha said, “Death occurs because of dehydration and lack of glucose and Vitamin B complex. Therefore, extra supplement of Vitamin A and B should be given to them.”

Dr BK Mall, staff veterinary officer, who is also an expert in poultry management, said precautions should be taken to prevent the death of poultry due to excessive heat. “In order to bring down heat, water should be sprinkled every two hours. In case of excess heat, fans should be provided and when it really becomes intolerable for poultry to survive, they should be dipped in water taking precaution that their upper body part is out of it. They should be kept in shade. These techniques are followed in government farms. Hence, there is not much casualty.”

The state government owned farms did not face such problem as 95% are of low-input varieties which have higher resistance against temperature and disease compared to the broiler.

Casualties were lower in ‘sarkari’ farms. Alok Ranjan Ghosh, joint secretary, animal and fisheries resources department, said out of total 9,390 poultry birds at Patna farm, 39 died in the past 15 days. “We provide all the facilities at the farm and with small management technique, a large number of poultry birds can be saved. We also impart training to farmers throughout the year during which they are taught about heat and stress management. Anyone who undergoes training is also given a certificate which helps them in getting priority in availing the benefit of government schemes,” Ghosh said.

Fowl eaters may cry ‘foul’, but chicken prices will keep circulating at a dizzying height, unless the local weather forecast come with some cool.

  Bihar, Chicken, development, Patna, Poultry, Prices, weather