Chicken prices improve

The procurement prices of live chicken and eggs have seen an increase this week following their improved movement in the market after the initial apprehension caused by bird flu.

"There has been some improvement in the movement of these commodities to Kerala markets as well as within the state in the last four days. Poultry consumption too has increased," an official of the Namakkal based National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC) said.

The Palladam-based Broiler Coordination Committee (BCC), which raised the farm gate price for live bird to Rs 22 per kg from last week's lowest-ever rate of Rs 15 per kg, has scaled up prices further to Rs 28. The broiler price is expected to go up to Rs 35 a kg shortly.

Poultry sources said week-end demand for chicken and improved domestic consumption had boosted the movement in the market thus encouraging the price recovery.

In the case of table eggs, NECC has set the procurement price at 85 paise, an increase of 20 paise from last week's price. It is likely to scale up the rate in the coming weeks.

Though the export shipment of eggs has not yet picked up due to the ban by the West Asian countries, the low egg rate offered in the local market has led to the consumption demand, thereby improving the volume of trade.