MANILA, Philippines — Poultry raisers continue to suffer losses as the farmgate price of chicken has dropped to P98 per kilo, but the retail cost remains high at P230 per kilo.
In a radio interview yesterday, United Broiler Raisers Association (UBRA) chairman emeritus Gregorio San Diego said the production cost of farmers ranged between P110 and P115 per kilo.
“The farmgate price (of chicken) keeps on dropping. Last Saturday, in Bulacan, the farmgate price reached P98 (per kilo). The poultry raisers are suffering,” San Diego said.
He added that despite the continued decrease in the farmgate price of chicken, poultry raisers have no control over the retail price in the markets.
“It (retail price) is market-dictated. The demand (for chicken) remains low as people don’t have money. The demand did not increase. There should be a shift to chicken because of the disease on pigs,” San Diego said, referring to the outbreaks of African swine fever.
He noted that the price of chicken is pegged at P58 per head.
“It was only P22 (per head) before. It represents 26 percent of our production cost. Our production cost ranged from P110 to P115 per kilo,” San Diego added.
He said the Department of Agriculture (DA) should act on the overpriced retail cost of chicken.
“The increase should only be 69 percent of the farmgate price. The DA should call the attention of those (who are involved in overpricing),” San Diego said.
Based on monitoring of the DA in Metro Manila markets, the retail price of whole chicken ranged between P170 and P230 per kilo.
San Diego said that local poultry raisers are also affected by the flooding of imported frozen chicken in the country.
He said that at least 480 million kilos of frozen chicken are expected to be imported in 2025.