Hari Raya season is when a few kinds of fresh produce experience a spike in prices, but chicken is dangerously close to tipping over before Aidilfitri this year.
Already on the rise, poultry dealers across the country are warning that the price of chicken could skyrocket, as supplies are dwindling and the cost to feed the chickens continues to rise.
Perak poultry association chairperson Ding Thong Chow told The Star Online that Malaysia’s suply of chicken was low even before the start of Ramadan, caused by a marked decrease in the growth rate of locally-reared chickens.
“Usually after 38 days, a chicken weighs about 2.5kg and is ready for slaughter but now it only weighs about 2kg at that stage. It’s taking longer for chickens to grow.
“We think this is due to the poor quality of dried maize imported from Argentina. There is a workers’ strike so, shipments have been delayed,” he said yesterday.
As it is, the price of chicken has risen from RM4.80 a kilo to RM5.
Restaurant owners in the Klang Valley also chimed in, saying the price of chicken has been high for the past two months, with some days seeing an increase of 60 to 70 sen per kilo.
Federation of Livestock Farmers’ Associations of Malaysia president Jeffrey Ng refutes the claim of dwindling supply.
“As of now, there should not be any problem in supply for Hari Raya,” he said.
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