Following confirmation of presence of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus in a couple of Karachi’s poultry farms last week, the price of chicken meat has plunged sharply during the last few days.
The decline in the rates was attributed by the retailers and wholesalers to the dwindling demand of the chicken meat by the general consumers and fast food restaurants, road side and five star hotels.
Abdul Maroof Siddiqui, central convener of Karachi Wholesalers Poultry Association when approached by the Daily Times on Tuesday to corroborate factual situation relating to sharp decline in the chicken meat demand, said the prevalent state of affairs indicate the poultry industry would have to bear the negative repercussions of the malady.
Price of chicken meat plunged to Rs 85 per kg compared to last week’s price of Rs 120 per kg while the live bird retail prices have declined to Rs 50 per kg, which is Rs 22 per kg less compared to old price of Rs 72 per kg.
Siddiqui said further decline in the price cannot be ruled out in the coming days keeping in mind the ongoing situation as consumers are generally reluctant to visit either fast food restaurants or roadside hotels which consume more than 60 percent out of total 400,000 chicken consumed daily in Karachi.
He claimed that the poultry industry may be pushed to the verge of devastation if the chicken meat prices further declined, prompted by the extremely lowest demand, continued unabatedly which would also render thousands of employees associated with this trade, jobless.
Siddiqui said compared to 2004’s outbreak of avian virus, when similar situation had crippled the industry for long duration of the time, the new emerging situation is more precarious in view of the rising cost of chicken production over the period of time.
An overwhelming majority of chicken meat retailers in different areas of the city have verified to Daily Times about sharp decline in the demand of the chicken meat saying for the last few days they are sitting idle most of the day owing to lack of response by the customers.
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