Chicken strike: Trader threatened for selling at ₹87/kg
- The dealer says that it is profitable to sell chicken at ₹87/kg
- After getting threat calls the dealer has now sought police protection to continue business
- Poultry traders in Kerala have shut down shops in protest against government order to sell chicken for ₹87/kg
FollowA dealer in Kozhikode was threatened after he decided to sell chicken for ₹87/kg, the price fixed by the state. The trader said that he got threat calls and they asked him to stop sale for reduced price or they will be forced to shut down the shop.
The dealers owned his own farm and decided to go with the price fixed by the government. He also placed a board stating that the sale is for the government-approved price.
According to him, it is profitable to sell chicken at ₹87/kg. Now he is seeking police protection to continue business by complying with the government order.
The dealer decided to follow government orders at a time when other traders are opposing the move.
Poultry traders are selling chicken for ₹145 to ₹160 after the launch of Goods and Service Tax (GST) while they were selling it for ₹115 to ₹130. There were allegations that poultry traders had increased price by ₹30 or more.
However, the dealers say that it is not practical to sell the meat for the amount proposed by the government. Even the government farms are selling live poultry for ₹87/kg. By the time it reaches retailer the total expense will come up to ₹125. How is it possible to continue with the trade is we are forced to sell for ₹87/kg. Private farms are not ready to sell chicken for a lower price, dealers said.
They also said that the price hike was due to a shortage in supply and not after GST launch.
Meanwhile, there are rumours that the Tamil Nadu lobby is controlling the market price as Kerala hatcheries are not able to provide chicken hatchlings.
