THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chicken prices have increased by Rs 50 per kg, while chicken dishes in hotels have increased by Rs 100 per plate. A three-piece chicken curry is priced at Rs 160-220, fry at Rs 300 and a two-piece biryani at Rs 180-300. The scorching price hike happened in two weeks.

The cutthroat price hike is by taking advantage of the drop in the arrival of chicken from Tamil Nadu. A kilo of chicken (live chicken) costs Rs 160-180 now, compared to Rs 115-125 two weeks ago. The people are relieved that the prices in roadside shops and small hotels have not increased significantly.

The prices of the dishes must be displayed and that is the only rule. Hotel owners can decide the quantity and price of the dishes. Exploitation will have to be tolerated until there is uniform pricing for dishes from hotels. The solution is to grade hotels based on the cost of goods and other costs and impose a uniform price. Neither the consumer department nor the government is raising any opinions on this.

Chicken: Rs 350

Chicken fry: Rs 1500

A 2 kg chicken yields 1.3 kg of meat. Rs 350 cost for two kg of chicken. Five full frys can be made from 1.3 kg of meat. Rs 1500 can be made from a chicken at the rate of Rs.300 per chicken fry. Even if oil, spice, and labor wages are considered, the profit margin is huge.

Tamilnadu price in Kerala as well

Poultry price is fixed by the Tamilnadu lobby. Palladam in Tirupur district is the main center of poultry farming. It takes 40 days to raise a chicken. During the summer months of April and May, a huge number of farmed chickens died and poultry production declined. The price was increased due to a lack of stock because of this. This price is followed by farmers in Kerala as well.

Kepco also has no stock

KEPCO used to give chicks to the farmers and buy the chickens they raise by weight. KEPCO did not supply the chicks in the last months and hence they are buying chicken from private farms at a higher price.

Price of chicken dishes

Biryani - 180 -300

Chicken Fry - 250 -300

Chilli Chicken -230 -295

Ginger Chicken - 240-280

Butter Chicken -250 -275