Poultry farmers warn of shortage

LAHORE: Pakistan Poultry Association (North) has warned of acute poultry meat shortage on the back of drastic decline in consumption and rates of broiler chicken, which forced farmers to cut back on putting one-day old chicks in sheds.

PPA (North Region) Chairman Ch Fargham said on resumption of businesses as usual and opening of schools, hotels, restaurants, wedding halls, etc the demand was going to spurt and due to extreme low availability of chicken, prices would shoot up.

“If the government intervenes by way of price controls, the farmers who have lost during this period will suffer much greater loss and discouragement for resuming production,” he warned. He said that the PPA understood that in the current situation, reopening marriage halls, hotels, restaurants, etc was not possible, and life of citizens was more important.

But he said “it is our responsibility to inform the government” of the outcomes of these decisions. Fargham also mentioned that electricity had become the second highest input cost in chicken and eggs. In order to avert the losses, the association has requested for reduction in electricity tariffs and deferring recovery of loans.