Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA-North) has warned of a possible increase in the poultry meat prices in the days to come because of decline in its production as a consequence of closure of 35 percent farms in the province.
"Chicken meat is being sold at the prices even below than its production cost as a result of which 35 percent farms have been closed down and if the government fails to help out the poultry farmers at this stage, it may lead to increase in its prices in the days to come," said PPA Chairman, Dr Mustafa Kamal, while addressing a press conference here on Monday.
Former PPA chairman Abdul Basit, Raza Mahmood Khursand, Khalique Arshad and others were also present on the occasion. The PPA Chairman further claimed that chicken meat was being sold below its production cost for the last one year as a result of which poultry farmers were forced to close down their businesses after sustaining large scale losses. He said that the government should come forward to support the ailing industry. He said that prices in free market system were determined on the basis of supply and demand but the government if wanted a controlled market with regard to chicken meat then it should fix minimum and maximum prices for this sector.
The PPA representatives demanded that the government should realise the hardships of the poultry farmers and announce a support package for the industry which should include interest-free loans from the scheduled banks to enable those farmers who had incurred losses.