Like other cities, in Kolkata too, the bird flu scare has left mutton price fluctuating with the demand. If the chicken sales have dipped by nearly 40%, the demand for mutton has soared by nearly 30%.
Like other cities, in Kolkata too, the bird flu scare has left mutton price fluctuating with the demand. If the chicken sales have dipped by nearly 40%, the demand for mutton has soared by nearly 30%.
However, the steady supply of lambs has prevented a sharp rise. In most of the localities, mutton prices rose by 10%-20%. In Behala, Jadavpur, Bhawanipore, Sovabazar mutton prices hovered around Rs 680 to Rs 720. In some old neighbourhoods, the mutton price remained stable at 650 a kg.
This fresh round of disruption may have a temporary impact on both mutton and chicken prices. Strict monitoring is necessary to ensure no one in the supply chain loses out or gains unfairly.
Mutton`s price, which was at Rs 620 a kg around the end of December and also in the first week of January, suddenly rose to Rs 640 on January 7-8.
The price revised almost daily to reach Rs 700-Rs 720 a kg now. If the demand goes higher, the price will appreciate further, this is what the average meat shop across the city had to say.
The chicken price, on the other hand, is plunging steadily, because of the sudden drop in demand. The chicken price has plunged to Rs160 a kg across city retail markets. However, not every mutton shop has raised the price. Some are still selling at Rs 640 a kg. On some days, it marginally rises marginally.
