Agriculture

Chicken prices decline amid bird flu fear

August 13, 2017 | 6:30am

Chicken prices decline amid bird flu fear

Retail prices of chicken in Metro Manila went down to P135 per kilogram from the average P160 per kg before the avian flu outbreak was confirmed. File photo

MANILA, Philippines — The prices of chicken meat in Metro Manila markets have declined amid the outbreak of bird flu in Pampanga even if the Department of Agriculture has clarified that it is safe for consumers to eat poultry products.

The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) said market monitoring in major wet markets in the metro showed that retail prices of chicken went down to P135 per kilogram from the average P160 per kg.

Wholesale prices also decreased to P110 per kg from the P125 per kg price before the announcement of the bird flu outbreak last Friday.

The DA confirmed that majority of the affected birds are layer chickens, which produce table eggs and products of the farms are being delivered within Pampanga only, which lessens the threat of bird flu spread in other areas particularly in Metro Manila.

"The affected are layer farms therefore the egg production will be affected and not the chicken meat. But the consumers are now afraid to buy chickens, hence the lower price," Sinag chairman Rosendo So said in a phone interview.

"We need to allay the fears of consumers that it is safe to buy chicken meats because if not, other poultry farms will be affected as well," he added.

Test specimens confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype H5 in the town of San Agustin in San Luis, Pampanga, killing 37,000 birds covering six farms particularly poultry, quail and ducks.

The H5 bird flu virus that hit the Philippines causes 80 to 100 percent mortality in the poultry industry.

Group urges 'strong cooperation' with DA

Meanwhile, the United Broilers Raisers Association (UBRA), a major poultry industry group, is urging its members all over the country to cooperate fully with the DA and attached agency Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to effectively contain the problem.

"With the strong cooperation of all poultry industry stakeholders, we are optimistic that the bird flu outbreak in Pampanga will be resolved swiftly, enable affected poultry farmers and their families to recoup their losses, and the industry to grow stronger," UBRA president Elias Jose Inciong said.

While chicken meat and egg supply may become volatile in the next few days, UBRA assured that it will continue to supply markets with quality and disease-free poultry products.

For the longest time, the Philippines is one of the few countries in Southeast Asia that remains free from the dreaded avian influenza virus.

The virus, which resurfaced in Asia in 2003, crippled poultry industries in neighboring countries, such as Vietnam.

"Other countries in the region with numerous cases of avian influenza have found the will to survive and thrive, hence I fully expect our country and the local poultry industry to likewise win this fight," Inciong said.

Furthermore, large chicken producers particularly San Miguel Foods Inc (SMFI) ., a subsidiary of diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp., assured all consumers of its Magnolia Chicken brand that their poultry farms remain free of avian flu.

"Upon immediate testing, our farms and our entire broiler flocks yielded negative results for bird flu. There are also no manifestations of any symptoms of the disease or any abnormal increase in mortality that are being observed," SMFI said.