Coronavirus scare hits poultry industry

PUNE: Coronavirus scare has badly hit the poultry industry with the prices of chicken nosediving in Pune. 

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The wholesale rates (farm gate rates) have dipped to Rs 5-12, which were Rs 40 till last month. 

Raju Thorat, a broiler farmer from Daund, said, “The farm gate rates have been reducing since February 2 due to coronavirus scare.” 

“Now, we have reduced the placement of birds by 30 per cent, which may help in controlling the falling prices by next month. We also have a lot of stock ready,” Thorat added. 

Vasant Kumar Shetty, President of Poultry Farmers and Breeders Association, also confirmed that poultry farmers in Maharashtra have reduced the placement of birds since last week.

Drastic reduction in chicken demand has forced the farmers in Kolhapur to give away their birds for free, while in Nanded, farmers have buried the birds due to reduced demand.