Price increase hits small-scale poultry farmers

Small-scale poultry farmers say that the recent price increase of chicken by Rs 30 has not yet been passed on to them and the price of live chicken that the small-scale producers mainly sell, remains unchanged at between Rs. 285-290.

The Chairman of the All Island Poultry Association (AIPA) said that the Association continuously demanded a price increase of Rs. 80 per kilo to compensate for the increased cost of production, but the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) had turned a deaf ear to their pleas.

However, it is reliably understood that the Rs. 30 price increase has now been granted at the request of the 'Colombo elite group', that represents large scale poultry producers.

The AIPA said that the Rs. 30 price increase is not sufficient to cover the increased cost of production of small-scale producers.

-GW