LAHORE: Vice Chairman Pakistan Poultry Association (Northern Region), Ch. Muhammad Fargham in a press briefing on Tuesday informed that Pakistan Poultry Association is extremely hurt and depressed by the action being taken by the Punjab Government to control the prices of live chicken and meat.
He said where were the provincial and federal governments when the farmers during the last six months were selling Day Old Chicks and broilers at an average price of Rs 20.8 and Rs 129.9 (Annex-A) during which time Day Old Chicks and Broilers were sold as low as Rs 04/chick and Rs 89 respectively against the cost of production of Rs 45 and Rs 160 respectively and millions of chicks and embryos were being destroyed?
He questioned the authorities that “Where was the government when breeder farmers had no cash flow to feed the breeders and had to sell young breeders for meat?!”
The Commissioner Animal Husbandry in the Ministry of National Food Security, Government of Pakistan had submitted cost of production to the Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court as far back as March 2012 at Rs 31.27 for Day Old Chicks and Rs 132.50/Kg for broilers (Annex-B).
The current costs are around Rs 45 for Day Old Chick and Rs 160 for Broilers. As per calculation of Director PRI Rawalpindi Cost of production is Rs.145 per kg live.
The Association had fully abreast the government that the situation would lead to acute shortage of poultry products as the losses would result into reduction in production and that prices will shoot up.
We had advised the government that in the event of increase in price, supply would partially but gradually increase to some extent
We had strongly advised the government not to intervene in free market mechanism. The governments paid no heed! Our pleadings fell on deaf ears.
Now when the market is allowing surviving farmers to recover their losses, the administration is arresting the sellers of chicken meat and forcing them to sell meat at Rs 260/Kg.
Such actions would lead to long term closure of poultry farms, which would lead to not only a tremendous increase in chicken meat prices but also mutton, beef and pulses as well.
The Association strongly urges the government to allow free market mechanism function to regulate demand & supply and not to intervene in market prices as in the long run it will go against the government’s intentions to supply edible products at reasonable prices.
Read More: Shehbaz Sharif’s lawyer tests positive for coronavirus
Lower prices for political gains is not a prudent policy.
(With Input From INP)
