Traders, however, argue that the impact of bird-flu is still to be seen as the capital is facing short supply of chicken.[break]
Amid dwindling supplies, price of chicken had increased by Rs 15 per kg, making it Rs 185 per kg last week. Similarly, farm gate price of chicken had also increased to Rs 145 per kg.
“The number of buyers has dropped by around 20 percent following reports of bird flu in a farm in Manahara of Bhaktapur. However, we are not in a position to lower the price because demand for chicken is still higher than the supply,” said Janga Bahadur BC, president of Kathmandu Valley Chicken Sellers Association.
Daily consumption of chicken in the capital has dropped to around 180,000 kg from around 200,000 kg recorded before the bird flu case came into light, according to BC. “Chicken price will not come down until the disease expands to other parts of the country,” he added.
At present, supplies from Kavre, Nuwakot, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Dhading and Kathmandu´s local farms are sufficient to meet demand for chicken in the capital.
These districts used to meet around 60 to 70 percent of the total demand on a normal day. Rest used to be sourced from farms in Chitwan, Makawanpur Sindhuli and Nawalparasi districts.
The government has confirmed avian influenza in the farm owned by one Chandra Bahadur Tamang.
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