Jamshedpur, Jan 10: The poultry market in the city is bracing for major losses as demand for chicken has begun to fall after the government confirmed bird flu cases in seven states. As a consequence, mutton prices have spiked.
The mutton prices have gone up as the majority of the people who used to prefer chickens are switching over to mutton in fear of getting contacted with the bird flu, the initial symptom of which has already started showing off here in the steel city.
Till Saturday, mutton was sold maximum at Rs 750 a kg, but on Sunday the prices shot up to Rs 800 and Rs 850 a kg at some places.
“I used to bring dressed chicken by paying Rs 200 a kg. But today despite the dressed chicken being available at Rs 170 a kg, I preferred to take mutton though in small quantities. Crows and other birds, including poultry chickens are dying, who will want to get infected by the bird flu,” said a resident of Jugsalai.
The mutton sellers warned of further hike in the prices of mutton given the situation arising out of the fear due to the bird flu.
“We can regulate the supply according to the demand in future. But, the real worry is that there will hardly be any takers even for the stock that we already have. So, that too would have to be sold at throw away prices,” said Mohammad Aqeel of suppliers.
Jamshedpur livestock market gets around three lakh chicken daily. But, wholesalers say at the time of bird flu scare the numbers rather tend to increase. “If the vigilance is strong then the trucks would be stopped at the border itself. But, on most days the number of trucks goes up than the daily average as poultry farmers try to get rid of their stock,” said a wholesaler at the mandi.
“We buy only live chicken. Now that the alert is there, only active chickens are being picked up. Those that look lazy should be avoided. Touching of chicken with naked hands is also being avoided,” said a manager at the store.
