Increasing load-shedding hours in the inhospitable winter has led to the supply falling by 15-20 percent. [break]
Naran Hari Khattri, president of Feed Industries Association Nepal, said price of live chicken has gone up to Rs 150 per kg from Rs 140 with the fresh rise in the price.
“Farmers have lowered the chicken count in their poultry farms as they are facing difficulty to maintain the required temperature in the farms due to worsening shortage of diesel and increasing power outage hours. Decreasing number of chicken in the commercial farms resulted in deficit of supply by 15-20 percent in the capital,” said Khattri.
Poultry entrepreneurs said daily demand for chicken in the capital is around 200,000 kg. “However, with the increasing demand for chicken with the onset of wedding season, deficit in supply will further widen in coming days,” said Khattri.
In view of falling production in the capital, traders have begun to source chicken from other major producing districts outside the valley such as Chitwan, Makawanpur and Nawalparasi. Local farms in the Kathmandu valley and adjoining districts such as Dhading, Kavre and Nuwakot are the key suppliers of chicken in the capital.
“We are importing more than 20 percent of the total chicken requirement from Chitwan, Makawanpur and Nawalparasi districts as chicken production in the valley has fallen in past couple of months,” said Khattri.
Meanwhile, with sharp rise in prices of ingredients required for feeds production, Nepali feed industries have also raised the feeds prices in the capital. Average price of poultry feed has been set at Rs 45 per kg from Rs 30 per kg a couple of months back.
According to Khattri, price of maize and oil cake has shot up to Rs 25 and Rs 35 per kg from Rs 19 and Rs 30 per kg respectively.
“We are compelled to increase the feed price as major components of feeds are imported with payments made in US dollar, which has strengthened lately,” he said.
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