Colva/Panaji: Poultry prices in Goa have surged over the past two weeks, with traders attributing the marked increase to extreme summer heat, lower production and increasing input costs.Chicken prices have climbed from around Rs 180 per kg a fortnight ago to nearly Rs 198 per kg in several markets, while eggs are retailing anywher between Rs 80 and Rs 95 a dozen.Vendors said that heatwave-like conditions have affected poultry production, as birds consume less feed and more water during summer.“The heat is affecting the birds and production has declined,” said Alfredo Dias, a chicken vendor at the Panaji market.Maqsood Khan, a poultry vendor based in Margao, said that rising costs of feed, water and even electricity have been pushing prices up significantly.“It takes nearly one-and-a-half months to rear a chicken, and input costs have increased considerably,” he said.Mario Valadares, owner of Royal Foods and a member of the All Goa Poultry Owners Association, said that feed prices have increased sharply in recent months, adding to the burden on poultry farmers and suppliers.Consumers, on their part, said that the spike in poultry prices is straining household budgets. “Eggs and chicken are affordable protein sources for many families. The sudden increase is being felt strongly,” said Sebastian Rodrigues, a resident of Benaulim.
