As evaluated by various Lahore News officials, poultry production had drastically decreased in Punjab in 2020, due to the sudden hike of Covid 19 pandemic. The closure of hotels and ban on big marriage ceremonies, which consume a big chunk of meat for various dishes, coerced the farmers to shut their farmhouses and so the rates of chicken meat and egg upswinged to an average of meat being Rs. 300 per kg and Eggs being Rs 197 per dozen. However, in open markets, the rates were even hiked to Rs 216 per dozen for eggs and Rs 320 per kg for meat.
Farmers blame the pandemic virus to be the main cause of the rates being immensely high. However, they also claim that the other reason for the rates of poultry being high is the failed production of maize crop and costlier wheat grain.
One more emerging blame of increased rates of poultry was put on the government, as described by the farmers, that they had warned the authorities before setting in of winter season. But the government was urged to allow a minor increase in poultry rates which they thought would increase the production, but unfortunately, all requests fell on the deaf ears.
However, in 2021, the poultry production began to normalize and so the extensive rates began to lose the peak, as the covid 19 situation was coming down to normal, yet not ending fully. Farmers were also somehow satisfied by the situation and their living was also improved as there were more employment opportunities. Hotels and marriage halls were allowed to open for some particular hours and so the meat was utilized.
However, with the onset of severe winter, the prices of eggs and chicken in the open market went up sharply. In winter, eggs became out of reach of the poor, while the prices of shavers and poultry continue to rise. In the open market, shaver eggs became Rs 185 a dozen at wholesale and Rs 200 a dozen at grocery shops and bakeries in retail. As the cold wave intensified, the demand for chickens and eggs increased.
According to the statistics agency, inflation in the country rose by 0.11% in one week after the rise in prices of 20 essential commodities. The egg rate today does not seem to be breaking and the price of a dozen eggs has increased by Rs6.26 per dozen in one week. Eggs became more expensive by Rs. 6-26 per dozen, with eggs being sold at the highest price.
In order to control the inflation of chickens and eggs and to fix their prices in a transparent manner, it was decided to implement an open auction system for wholesale and purchase of chickens and eggs, under which Buying and selling will be subject to the rules and procedures of the Market Committee.
Predicting for 2022, the pandemic situation is expected to improve further and so rates would be at average. Poultry is expected to trade at 6.59 BRL/Kgs, according to analysts expectations. Looking forward, it is estimated to trade at 6.26 in 12 months time.
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