Prices of broiler, Sonali and local chickens have jumped in the capital ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.

Prices of broiler and Sonali chicken increased by Tk30-40 per kg in a week and Tk50-60 per kg compared to that a couple of weeks ago.

Lack of proper market management, no price fixation by government authorities and supply crunch are the main causes for the recent price hike, said market insiders.

Around five days ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, the corporate syndicate increased the price of chicken in the market, said Sumon Howlader, president of Bangladesh Poultry Association (BPA).

“Demand for chicken usually increases during different festivals like Shab-e-Barat,Eids and the 31 December night. The corporate syndicate increased the price of one-day chick one or two months ahead of the festivals and produced chicken in their own farms and under contracts with other farms,” he said.

“Due to higher chick prices, marginal small farmers did not buy one-day-old chicks at a higher rate, which resulted in a drop in supply of chickens in the market. The corporate farms have increased the price of chicken ahead of the festival sensing the supply crunch,” he said.

Visiting kitchen markets in Mirpur and Mohammadpur areas of the capital, this correspondent found that broiler chicken sold at around Tk250 per kg, Sonali chicken at around Tk350 per kg, Sonali hybrids at around Tk340 per kg and the local chickens at Tk650 per kg.

A week earlier, the price of broiler chicken was Tk220 per kg, Sonali chicken was Tk320 per kg and local chicken was Tk570-600 per kg.

Three weeks earlier, the price of broiler chicken was Tk190 per kg, Sonali chicken was Tk290 per kg and local chicken was selling at Tk550 per kg.

Sumon said the corporate syndicate hiked the price of one-day chicken to Tk90-100 per piece a month ago to create an artificial crisis in the market.

“The production cost of a one-day chick is Tk28-30 while the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) fixed its price at Tk63 but marginal farmers have to purchase the chick at Tk80-90 per piece. Broiler feed production cost is Tk50-55 per kg but marginal farmers have to buy it at Tk70-75 per kg. For these reasons, production cost of marginal farmers increased and they did not rear chicken,” he said.

On the other hand, the corporate farm produces one-day-old chick and feed at their farms and they supply those at reasonable prices to the contract farmers. For this reason, their production cost is much lower than the marginal farmers, he said.

Rajib, an employee of Mayer Doa Chicken Shop at Mirpur-6, said the supply of chicken has declined at the wholesale level and the price increased. So, they have to sell chicken at a much higher price.

On Friday, the price of beef stood at the previous high rate of Tk780-800 per kg and mutton sold at Tk1,100 per kg.

The price of farm eggs was Tk125-130 per dozen, the same as the previous week's price.

Onion sold at Tk50 per kg and potato at Tk45 per kg on Friday.

Price of brinjal was Tk30-50 per kg, okra Tk60 per kg, bean Tk30-50 per kg, pointed gourd 60 per kg and bottle gourd Tk30-40 per piece on Friday.

Bitter gourd sold at Tk70 per kg, tomato at Tk40 per kg, green chilli at Tk80 per kg, the carrot was Tk40 per kg, papaya was Tk50 per kg, the ribbed gourd was Tk60 per kg and lemon was TK20-60 per four pieces.

Yardlong bean was available at Tk100 per kg while sponge gourd at Tk60 a kg, spiny gourd at Tk50 per kg, ribbed gourd at Tk60 per kg and drumstick at Tk160 per kg, on Friday.