Coronavirus scare: Chicken sales decline by 35 pc despite Govt's attempt to dispel rumours

Poultry Industry experts said on Tuesday that sales of chicken have dropped by nearly 35 per cent in past few days amid increasing fear that dely Coronavirus can be transmitted by consuming meat. Even as government has been making efforts in dispelling rumours about consumption of certain food items, people have refrained from buying chicken to save mselves from spre of disease.

Last week, District magistrates at Luckw and Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Presh banned  sale of meat in open areas. Following this, many restaurants and hotels have put up signs informing ir consumers about availability of n-vegetarian food.

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Several wholesalers and food companies told news ncy ANI that chicken sales have dropped by 30 to 35 per cent, while prices of broiler chicken have fallen by over 50 per cent.

"It is because of irresponsible statements being issued by some government departments which has led people to exclude chicken from ir diet," said Rajiv Jaisinghani, Managing Director of Punjab-based Darshan Foods Pvt Ltd. 

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State poultry industries suffering a loss

Karnataka has been suffering most due to rumours surrounding Coronavirus over social media since February. poultry industry is facing a daily loss of nearly Rs 65 crore said D K Kantaraju, President of Karnataka Cooperative Poultry Federation.

"From first week of February, prices of chicken have come down to Rs 45 from Rs 75 per kg," he said.

Maharashtrian poultry industry is also bearing a loss of Rs 150 crore on a daily basis due to decline in demand for livestock, Vasant Kumar Shetty, President of Poultry Farmers and Breeders Association in Maharashtra. He ded that sales are likely to remain low in next six weeks.

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Ghazipur, largest meat market in Delhi, has dropped prices of wholesale poultry chicken by over 45 per cent in last four weeks.

"Though prices fluctuate on a daily basis, we have been selling chicken at about Rs 55 since first case of Coronavirus was confirmed in Kerala. In January, prices of broiler chicken stood at around Rs 90 per kg," said Mohsin, a wholesale trer.

Animal Husbandry Commissioner Praveen Malik said in a letter to Poultry Federation of India last week that poultry is t found to be involved in transmission of Coronavirus to humans.

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(With inputs from ANI)