Chicken sales soar during Christmas

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It seems Malayalis spent as much time eating chicken and turkey this Christmas as they spent greeting friends and relatives. Meat sales, especially that of chicken, have been so delectably brisk during 2011 Christmas that Meat Products of India (MPI) has even rolled out an SMS facility for ensuring smoother’ chicken sales for New Year.Private chicken merchants had forecast dull sales, but government agencies are scarcely complaining. Both Kerala State Poultry Development Corporation (KEPCO) and MPI registered increase in chicken sales compared to the 2010 Christmas. Between December 23 and 25, KEPCO sold approximately 25 tonnes of chicken (value-added products excluded). KEPCO outlets sold 20 tonnes while the Corporation’s farm at Kudappanakkunnu sold 4.95 tonnes. “Last year we sold 26 tonnes between December 23 and December 31. We expect sales to continue in the same pace up to New Year since it is the wedding season,” KEPCO managing director V Sunil Kumar said.Chicken sales by another State Government-undertaking, MPI, went up from three tonnes last year to 4.5 tonnes. MPI’s total sales turnover - chicken, pork, turkey, mutton and beef included - went from Rs 31 lakh to Rs 142.6 lakh, MPI managing director Ani S Das said.  While private chicken merchants feared a dull Christmas market during this season, State Government agencies had taken precautions against fluctuating chicken prices in the open market.In the Palayam market here, live chicken which cost Rs 105 a kg on Sunday morning, was sold at Rs 115/kg by afternoon. KEPCO had reduced prices to tackle the sudden price rise.This year, meat sales left the MPI with two surprises. One was the reduced sale of beef and the second, the spurt in turkey meat sales. MPI’s beef sales saw an increase by one tonne over 2010, but it was not as expected, MPI officials said. But turkey meat sales, which stood at approximately 50 kg last year, soared to 600 kg this year, they said. KEPCO also sold around 160 kg of turkey meat this Christmas season.