Date:04/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/04/stories/2008080459721000.htm

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Production cost of broiler chicken up

Staff Reporter

COIMBATORE: With the raw material prices up, production cost has also gone up substantially for the broiler producers during the recent months.

According to an official of the broiler coordination committee, the price is nearly Rs. 45 a kg now. Despite the ban on maize exports, the cost is about Rs. 1,100 a quintal now and the soya price is Rs. 20,000 a tonne.

These are two main ingredients in broiler feed and the costs increased by nearly 100 per cent in the last four or five months. The farm gate price of broiler is at Rs. 56 a kg. Coimbatore district produces nearly 50 lakh birds.

Maize prices are expected to come down with the new arrivals in October. Besides, farmer awareness on various markets to sell the produce has gone up and this has an impact on the prices. Broiler is an agri-based sector and hence it is difficult to control the production costs.

The official said broiler demand in terms of consumption had not come down, and hence the retail prices were not affected.