Trends and seasonal variations in broilers prices

ABSTRACT

An attempt was made to analyze the impact of seasonal changes, disease scare situations and festivals on the prices of broilers across India. Prices of broilers were collected for the period from 2017 to 2021 from the various secondary sources like Karnataka Poultry Farmers and Breeders Association (KPFBA), TS AP Broiler Co-Ordination Committee (TSAPBCC), Poultry Bazaar etc. The seasonal index analysis for the last 10 years data revealed that the average broiler prices had grown significantly from 2011 to 2014, later prices gradually declined in 2015 due to the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) in the month of February, 2015. Prices bounced back and increased from 2016 to 2019. Again there was decline of prices in the middle of January 2020 due to outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) and Covid-19 pandemic. The prices of broilers have been recovering and gradually increasing since March, 2021 onwards. The consumption of chicken during winter season is high and this led to high prices in the market. Whereas the demand for chicken during hot climate months of March, April and May become slack in all the market centers of India resulting lowest price for chicken. Also, the increased demand on account of festivals viz., Christmas and New Year attributed to the rise in prices in the months of November and December.