Farmers in the district complained that they weren´t getting sufficient number of chicks not because of low production but due to artificial shortage imposed by hatcheries to raise prices. [break]
They also said they had to wait for at least three months to get delivery of chicks. “Farmers have booked more than 40,000 heads of chicks for the delivery by May. But hatcheries aren´t supplying chicks as per the demand though they have sufficient stock,” said Daya Ram Mahat, proprietor of Himalayan Veterinary Clinic and Chicks Suppliers.
Five hatcheries are producing around 100,000 chicks per week in the district.
Though Nepal Hatchery Association has fixed the price of chicks per head at Rs 65, farmers are compelled to pay Rs 90 due to artificial shortage.
With the short supply of chicks in farms, production of chicken in poultry farms across the district have gone down pushing prices of poultry products up.
However, hatchery producers claim that they have been supplying sufficient quantity of chicks as per the demand of the farmers. “We are providing sufficient number of chicks to the farmers after taking bookings two weeks in advance. Supply deficit has been created as farmers are unnecessarily demanding higher number of chicks,” said Ishwar Sharma, president of the association.
He said deficit of parent chicks imported from abroad has created problem in producing sufficient number of chicks.
According to hatchery entrepreneurs, they are in a position to supply only around 700,000 heads a week against the actual demand of one million heads.
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