KOLKATA: The minister for the department of animal resources on Saturday sought a report on the unusually high mortality in poultry farms across Bengal. The death of chickens has triggered distress sales across south Bengal, with poultry farms increasing supply to markets in Kolkata over the weekend when demand peaks. The rise in the supply steadied prices that have been creeping up over the past week.“After reading in TOI, I have sought a report from my department. They will probe the matter. If any remedial measure is required, it will be taken without delay,” said animal resource department minister Swapan Debnath. He also asked officers to work in close coordination with Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and look into complaints of unfair pricing of chicken in markets.On Saturday, an adequate supply of chicken steadied prices in the city. “Since 40% of the weekly demand for chicken is met over the weekend, poultry farms tried to push retail sale by offloading young birds at much cheaper rates. This, they felt, was wiser than holding on to them and risking a bigger loss if they die,” said West Bengal Poultry Traders’ Association general secretary Pratap Ghosh.Consequently, 90% of the chicken that arrived on Saturday weigh less than 700g. Janai Dhara, who sells dressed and whole chicken at Behala market, said poultry farms usually do not sell chicken this young as the returns are poor. “That the chicken are being sent to the market this early shows the desperation to clear stock,” added Ghosh.The West Bengal Poultry Federation claimed that mortality had been effectively tackled in some farms and that the situation would improve in a week.“The weather has been fickle this season. Chicken are extremely vulnerable to any major fluctuation. We don’t know whether the birds are falling victim to global warming. But medicines are now working effectively,” said federation general secretary Madan Maity.The poultry farm owners also said the sudden spike in chicken price was partly due to the price rise of chicken feed. The essential ingredient of chicken feed is corn, which has shot up from Rs 10 a kg to Rs 24 a kg in a fortnight.“We need to see whether inferior chicken feed is also causing this high rate of mortality,” said Maity.

Stay updated with all the Kolkata Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.