Meat market becomes unstable again
With Eid ahead, the meat market has become unstable again. The biggest heat is in the price of chicken. In a week, the price of broilers has increased by Tk. 40 per kg and Sonali by Tk. 30.
The price of beef has increased by Tk. 30, somewhere Tk. 50 per kg. However, the price of semai, sugar and polao rice did not rise again.
Traders say that the demand for chicken has increased on the occasion of Eid, but the supply is less. Farmers took this opportunity. This has had an impact on prices.
On the other hand, semai-sugar sales are much lower than in recent years. They said that because people have less money, buyers are fewer in the semai-sugar market.
On March 15, the Agriculture Marketing Department had fixed the price of broiler chicken at Tk. 175 per kg, Sonali at Tk. 262 and beef at Tk. 664 per kg. But these are not being sold anywhere at such a price.
On Friday, Tejgaon Colony Bazar, Mohakhali and Karwan Bazar in the capital were seen to be selling broiler chicken at Tk. 240 to Tk. 250 and Sonali at Tk. 350 to Tk. 360 per kg.
A week ago, broilers were sold at Tk. 200 to Tk. 210 and Sonali breed chicken at Tk. 320 to Tk. 330 per kg. However, in the last two weeks, the price of eggs has decreased by Tk. 10 to Tk. 15 per dozen. Brown colored eggs are being bought for Tk. 120 per dozen of the farm.
Amjad Hossain, a salesperson at Ma Ayesha Broiler House in Karwan Bazar, said, "The demand for broiler chickens increases during Eid." But the supply in the market is low for a few days. Farmers have also increased prices. That's why the price has also increased in retail shops.
Bangladesh Poultry Association (BPA), an organization of marginal farmers, has alleged that corporate organizations are behind the increase in the price of chicken.
The president of the organization, Suman Howladar, said, "Marginal farmers are not able to buy chickens because the corporate groups are creating an artificial crisis. So they are forced to withdraw from production. Most of the chickens in the market now are from corporate groups. They are also controlling the market.
He said, it costs Tk. 28 to Tk. 30 to produce a chick. But the marginal farmers have to buy those babies for Tk. 80 to Tk. 90.
Meanwhile, broiler chicken feed costs Tk. 50 to Tk. 55 to produce, but farmers have to buy that feed at the rate of Tk. 70 to Tk. 75 per kg.
It should be noted that beef has been sold at Tk. 750 to Tk. 780 per kg for quite some time.
But now most of the places are selling Tk. 800. Somewhere it is available for Tk. 750. Mutton is being sold at the price of Tk. 1000 as before. Meat market has become again.