Why is the price of chicken meat increasing continuously and on what basis is the rate determined?

In an environment like tension between the poultry association and the government on chicken feed, it has been feared that the price of chicken meat may continue to rise in the coming days. This warning of the Pakistan Poultry Association came after the statement of Federal Minister for Food Security Tariq Bashir Cheema, in which he suggested not to eat chicken raised on 'Major shat feed, announcing that in future Pakistan will only Will import oil seeds that do not contain Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). In this era of economic crisis and inflation, the price of chicken in Pakistan like other food items had already increased a lot, but during the last two weeks, the price of chicken per kg has increased by one and a half to two hundred rupees. While at the same time, the fear of further increase in prices is being shown. In the midst of all this, the question is also echoing that how the rate of chicken is determined, what are the factors that lead to a decrease or a huge increase in the price and whether the government has anything to do in determining the price of chicken. Have a relationship? Before knowing the answer to these questions, it is important to know what is going on with the problem of supply and demand of chicken. Malik Samir Ali, a resident of Islamabad, is involved in the business of chicken and meat in Sector G-11 Center. He told BBC that on Sunday, he sold chicken meat at Rs 700 per kg, which was between Rs 440 and 480 per kg a few days ago. According to him, the reason for this increase in price is that ten days ago he was getting chicken meat from the local market for Rs. According to him, now the price of live chicken is 420 rupees per kg, which means that the price of ten days ago has increased by 150 rupees. Malik Samir Ali is among the shopkeepers who are selling chicken meat according to market demand and he agrees that there is no visible movement to control the rate. They say that when buyers come to their shop, they complain to them that 'there has been a lot of inflation, what will we do now?'

The chicken feed case that sparked the crisis

Businessmen associated with the poultry industry in Pakistan are blaming the government for the crisis, which is already under fire from the public due to the increase in the prices of food items, including flour. On these accusations and the public's criticism, last week on January 5, the Federal Minister for Food Security, Tariq Bashir Cheema, suggested the public to stay away from chicken through a press conference. He said that he himself does not eat chicken or meat. He said that people should stop eating chicken because chicken feed is harmful to health. Businessmen connected with the poultry sector say that the biggest crisis at present is not the chicken but its feed, due to which the supply of chicken in the market has decreased greatly while the demand has increased. Mien Muhammad Javid, Mien Muhammad Aslm and Muhammad Ashraf are involved in poultry business. According to him, at present, 12 ships loaded with soybeans and canola are standing at the port of Karachi for the last two and a half months and the government is not allowing their release, due to which this chicken feed is not reaching the factories. Should be noted that many numerous w3e of imports have been stopped in view of the huge decline in the country's reserves. According to former Member of National Assembly from Islamabad, Mien Muhammad Aslm, these ships have been stopped at the port by making allegations of technical nature. Also read this

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According to him, this crisis has arisen due to the government's indecisiveness and not taking a timely decision. Muhammad Ashraf says that due to the government's objection, five of the 12 ships anchored in the port of Karachi are loaded with soybeans and seven are loaded with canola feed, which have been stopped there. Two more ships left America more than a month ago, on December 6, which will reach Karachi in four or five days. According to him, a ship takes 38 to 40 days from America to Karachi. Now there is also fear that banks may not delay in paying them. According to Mohammad Ashraf, Pakistan has been paying hourly fines to these anchored ships for the past two and a half to three months, but a complete solution to the problem is not being sought. According to him, due to this delay, a penalty of 1000 dollars per hour has to be paid. Mien ASLM says that his colleagues associated with the poultry industry took this issue to the Prime Minister and then the federal cabinet also approved the delivery of this feed to the local market, but still, it is not possible to deliver the feed to the poultry farms. Skied. According to him, poultry cannot be stocked and due to shortage of feed, the supply has decreased, which has increased the prices. Poultry Association President Muhammad Ashraf said that the trade department directorate, FBR and then the federal government raised the objection that the imported chicken feed contains GMO (genetically modified organism) which is harmful to health. Federal Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema said that GMO soybeans were not included in poultry feed before 2015. "Poultry mafia has gone around and imposed taxes on local soybeans, which made imported soybeans cheaper and local soybeans more expensive." According to him, "GMO purchase is not allowed in the rules" and Pakistan has also signed an international agreement regarding this. According to the Federal Minister, since he took the stand, the poultry producers started buying local feed. According to Mien Aslm, if the government does better research, then Pakistan itself can produce this feed, but resources are required for this purpose. According to him, the company from which he was getting the feed is no longer able to produce the feed, due to which he has to contract with another company for the feed. "Locally available feed is not enough to raise chickens and this is causing a supply crunch and poultry farms are closing down." According to Mohammad Ashraf, Pakistan has been importing GMO feed not since 2015, but since 1986 in agreement with the results of modern research.

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How is the price determined?

According to Muhammad Ashraf, President of Poultry Association, the rate of feed is decided by the government, poultry feed and poultry farming. "If the government gives permission, then the rates increase, otherwise not." According to him, the government has fixed the rate of 9000 rupees per pack of feed. However, he says that the rate of chicken or egg actually depends on supply and demand. According to him, today, if 380 chickens are sold in the market, the farmer tries to sell 380 chickens from the farm. According to him, there is a slight difference in the prices of every place and every city because the price of chicken varies by one rupee after every 15 to 20 km. According to Mohammad Ashraf, chicken is reared in remote areas while its main market in Punjab is in cities like Lahore, Faisalabad or Multan in Punjab, where the rate of chicken is determined after travel expenses. According to him, although the government is not directly involved in fixing the price of chicken, still "the government (trade directorate) prevents us from increasing the price unnecessarily, raids are done on the shops." Many experts, including them, are of the opinion that like other food items, the price of chicken is determined based on demand and supply, not on the basis of government data and estimates. Mien Aslm also agrees with this opinion. According to him, if the chicken gets good feed, then it is possible to raise it quickly and it increases its supply in the market, thus the price automatically comes under control. In the opinion of Muhammad Ashraf and Mien ASLM, the chicken crisis is being created in the country by raising objection to the feed, while soybeans are made from GMOs all over the world and are imported from other countries including the United States. According to Muhammad Ashraf, the poultry industry is now trying to find an alternative without depending on the government to make chicken available in the market at cheaper prices. According to Mohammad Ashraf, he first went to the Ombudsman who gave a decision in his favor and after that he went to the Prime Minister. According to him, Prime Minister's adviser Tariq Pasha asked him to give a 'way out' to get out of this problem. According to Mohammad Ashraf, now the snow has melted little by little, it is hoped that it will improve in two or three days. According to him, a ship with canola has been 'unloaded' and the feed has reached the factories. According to him, he has now been told that the second ship will be unloaded tomorrow. It may be noted that at present, a total of seven canola-laden ships are anchored at Karachi port, of which five are still 'unloaded'. According to Mohammad Ashraf, the soybean ships have also received the permit and now they are likely to start delivering feed from Monday. According to him, at this time the State Bank of Pakistan has made the 'payment' of four ships, while half of the price of the fifth ship has also been paid. He said that if everyone does not pay the bank for the ships, then there may be a problem.