Chicken stock runs out, price hits the sky
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, May 29 2012: With All Manipur Poultry Farmers and Traders Association banning import of chickens, the supply of chicken has considerably declined in Imphal market with most chicken shops running out of stock.

The few available chickens are also being sold at a much higher rate, taking undue advantage of the situation.

When Hueiyen Lanpao made a survey of Imphal East and West markets on the availability of chicken; broiler, a breed of chicken popularly consumed in the state, was found to be out of stock in almost all the chicken centres.

The few chickens found in some chicken centres were also found being sold at much higher rates than the price at which the chicken were sold few days back.

The cost of live broiler in the chicken centres of Nagamapal area was tagged at Rs 130 per kg and dressed chicken at Rs 180 per Kg.

The rate was much higher as compared to the rate prevailed in the month of April where one kg of live broiler chicken could be bought for Rs 100 and a dressed one at Rs 120 per Kg.

With Chicken business running dry, a shop keeper enjoys his siesta

A chicken centre owner in Nagamapal informed Hueiyen Lanpao that before the transportation of chickens from other states in Manipur was prohibited by All Manipur Poultry Farmers and Traders Association, a number of traders came to his shop for supplying chickens at low rate.

But now, no traders have come for supplying chickens.

Explaining the reason behind low productivity of chickens in the state, the shopkeeper further informed that with the import of huge quantities of broiler chicken into the state by various traders at very low rate, the local chicken farmers of the state could not compete due to increase in high price of chicks and their feeds in the state.

So, they failed in the business.

But now that import of broiler chicken has been banned, the local chicken farmers will again start their business and supply of chickens in the state will normalize in a couple of months.

When Hueiyen Lanpao surveyed the chicken centres in Pishumthong, Singjamei and Chingamakha area, a number of centres were found closed.

Another shopkeeper who opens a chicken centre in Singjamei Chingamakha contended that ban on import of chickens by All Manipur Poultry Farmers and Traders Association was not the right approach.

The prohibition should be made by the concerned authority of the state.

The reason for the prohibition should also be made clear to the public.

One good reason for prohibiting the said item would be on health grounds.

If the department concerned felt that imported chickens are a threat to the health of the people of the state, they have every right to prohibit it in the interest of the general public.

But issuing a prohibitory notice by an Association taking into consideration the problems of a few chicken farmers against the desire of the public can be regarded as a serious breach of law.

It can also be considered as a form of monopoly.

The silent attitude of the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry in this regard is a matter of serious concern, he added.

In Majorkhul, New Chekon and Chingmeirong area, dressed broiler chickens were found being sold at Rs 190 per kg and live ones at Rs 150 per kg.