Chicken is getting expensive by the day

Jul 27, 2017

Two months back, chicken was affordable and its demand was largely catered for.

(Credit: Ruth Nanfuka)

NUTRITION


Having a meal in Kampala is getting harder by the day.

Sarah Nakato, a businesswoman in the city, says after working so hard in the morning, you would want to treat yourself to a sumptuous meal by afternoon, but it is becoming hard because of the ever-rising prices.

She says chicken prices, particularly, have shot up - and this has relegated many of them to cheaper options like katogo (local food cocktail).

And the hike in chicken prices does not just affect the final. Traders and farmers alike are feeling the pinch too.

It's getting some worried.

Two months back, chicken was affordable and its high demand was largely catered for.

The price ranged from sh11, 000 to sh30, 000 depending on the size of the chicken and market location.

 

According to James Bulumba, a chicken farmer in Kanyanya, the hike in the prices of chicken feed has greatly influenced this drastic price increase on the market.

He says whether you buy already mixed feed or unmixed feed, the price remains high yet to have a good breed of chicken, they need to be fed to the maximum.

When the chicken is well fed, it becomes heavy and makes it easier for the farmer to have market for his birds more especially the off-layers which eat a lot.

Bulumba adds that this would require him to buy feeds on a weekly basis.

Two hundred kilograms pillet feeds costs sh492, 000 while local feeds of the same measurement goes for sh360, 000.

At Matugga market, an off-layer chicken has been at sh14, 000 and if you are taking a slaughtered one, it would cost sh15, 000.

But at the moment, chicken is at sh15, 000 and a slaughtered one at sh16, 000.

At city markets like Nakasero, the price is even higher; chicken ranges between sh17, 000 and sh18, 000.

And for the big size chicken, the price goes as far as sh50, 000.

 

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