This is the second time chicken prices were jacked up in the last ten days.[break]
With the upward revision in prices, dressed broiler chicken are being sold for Rs 255 per kg in the local market, while live chicken are priced at Rs 190 per kg. Earlier, prices of dressed broiler and live chicken stood at Rs 240 and Rs 180, respectively.
The revised prices will come into effect in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur and two hundred cold stores in Kavre districts.
Unlike in the past when chicken prices used to fall with the outbreak of bird-flu, prices have instead gone up this year due to declining production and rising demand.
Usually, chicken production declines in winter, as farmers hesitate rearing chicken due to fear of their products falling victim to bird-flu.
Janga Bahadur BC, president of the Kathmandu-based National Chicken Sellers Association, said chicken production has dropped by more than 30 percent lately, leading to price hike in the market.
"As farmers have stopped raising chicken since October amid volatile poultry market and fear of bird-flu outbreak, chicken supplies have declined in the market," said BC.
Chicken sellers said supplies from major production areas such as Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Dhading and Makawanpur have dropped significantly creating a supply deficit in the capital.
Demand for chicken in the capital hovers at around 250,000 kg per day.
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