Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Oct 3: For the first time in the history of the poultry industry, production cost of chicken per kg has crossed Rs 100 mark. As such, the prices of broilers and Tyson chicken continue their upward march.

The cost of production is over Rs 120 per kg now. Including the transportation cost and profit of the shopkeeper, broilers are priced at around Rs 170 a kg. The Tyson price has crossed Rs 200. This price is the highest witnessed so far, the experts say. The consumers are reeling under the price hike.

During the pandemic, the poultry industry had faced unprecedented problems. It faced problems like high cost, lockdown, ban on transportation to other states etc. The tussle between Karnataka and Kerala also had an impact on this business as 50 percent of the chicken produced here goes to Kerala.

Karnataka Poultry Farmers and Breeders Association president, Dr Sushant Rai, feels that the government has to take initiatives to extend protection to the poultry industry, which is one of the big industries of the country, and to encourage it. As per an estimate, poultry annual turnover in Karnataka is Rs 10,000 crore with six to eight percent increase every year. As much as 11.5 lac poultry is produced everyday while the annual broiler production touches 42 crore. Broiler is now sold at Rs 170 in Mangaluru and Rs 200 and 220 in Mysuru and Bengaluru respectively.