Tribune News Service Amritsar May 5 Restricting the number of attendees in parties and stopping the dine-in facility at eating joints has made a big dent in the profit margins of those dealing in poultry products. Some of them say that despite hiking the prices of poultry feed they have failed to get any financial gain. Restricting the number of participants in parties to 20 and stopping the dine-in facility in restaurants hotels and resorts have led to a major fall in bulk sale of poultry products. The prices of poultry products have gone up with a kilo of broiler selling for Rs 180 and a piece of egg Rs 4.50. A kilo of mutton is being sold at Rs 550. The high costs of poultry products notwithstanding poultry farmers are unable to gain profit. GS Bedi president Amritsar Poultry Association says: “Bulk orders have evaporated from the market though the marriage season is on. The government has allowed home delivery and take-away facilities to eating joints but the move has failed to generate demand.” Usually the demand for poultry products sees a decline of nearly 20 per cent in summer but a surge in Covid-19 cases have jacked up its demand from the domestic side this time. Protein-rich poultry is considered good for boosting the immune system and protecting the body from the virus. Another major factor affecting the profit margins of poultry farmers is the rise in the prices of poultry feed. Even the rate of soya de oiled has almost doubled from Rs 35 per kg to Rs 68. The price of soya de oiled cake was Rs 35 per kg in February. Poultry farmers blame it on hoarding. They say the price of soyabean refined oil has also gone up in the market. The rate of major poultry feed ingredient maize has also increased from Rs15 per kg to Rs19. A poultry feed consists of 60 per cent maize and 25 per cent soya de oiled cake. After the outbreak of Covid-19 last year poultry farmers had incurred losses on account of poor sale due to misplaced fear of people. It had led to a big fall in the prices of egg meat and chicken.

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