Poulterers forced to sell chicken, eggs cheaply in Chitwan

Chitwan, November 25

Poultry farmers in Chitwan are likely to quit the profession after unexpected slump in the price of chicken and eggs.

The farmers have been compelled to sell eggs for seven rupees each.

Nepal Egg Production Association Chair Trilochan Kandel said big size eggs were being sold for Rs 230 per crate, medium size for Rs 200 and small size for Rs 180 in the market. He added that almost all farmers might leave the profession if the situation remained the same for three months. “The farmers cannot pay bank interest and instalment due to the fall in price,” he informed.

Similarly, farmers have been selling live broiler chicken for Rs 135 while normal cost for the chicken is Rs 175. Central Chairman of Chicken Farmer Association Janak Poudel said farmers were facing huge loss as they had paid exorbitant amounts for chicken and feed, among others. He said that big cold stores bought the chicken at cheaper rate, filled the godown and sold the meat at hiked price. Poudel added that farmers had been hit hard due to illegal import of meat from India.

Meanwhile, Central Chairman of Nepal Hatchery Industry Association Tika Ram Pokhrel said farmers got low price owing to failure of the authority concerned to manage the market properly. “The farmers and the state need to work in tandem so as to promote poultry farming,” he said.