March 9: With the decline in production, the price of chicken has increased by 36 percent. Production of chicken has declined as the hatchery industries have not been able to import parent chicken due to the extended lockdown.

According to the Nepal Hatchery Industry Association, the price of broiler chicken has gone up by 36 per cent in a month from Rs 70 to Rs 95 per chicken. Similarly, the price of layer chicken, which was Rs 140 per chick, has also increased by 22 percent to Rs 170.

Tikaram Pokharel, president of the association, told New Business Age that despite the demand of 4.2 million to 4.5 million chickens per week in Nepal, only 2.8 million chickens are being produced per week due to lack of parent chicken. He informed that it was very difficult to meet the high demand for chicken as the production could not be done as per the demand.

“During the lockdown, they had to bury the chicken as they were not sold. Now it is difficult to meet the demand,” he said.

Hatchery industries had imported mother chicken from Thailand only a few weeks ago and raised them for egg production. However, they have to wait till September and October to get their eggs. As the production of chicken will not increase till then, the price is expected to increase until then.

At present, the cost price of a young broiler chicken is Rs 56 per chicken while the cost price of layer chicken is Rs 110 per chicken. According to the association, the industries had to bury 4.2 million chicken per week for six months as chicken were not sold during the lockdown. Hatcheries had to bear huge loss at that time. Therefore, even if the chicken are sold at the current price for the next six months, the hatchery industry will not be able to recover the loss.