Tamil Nadu poultry strike pushes chicken prices up across Karnataka

Bengaluru: A prolonged strike by poultry farmers in neighbouring Tamil Nadu has triggered a sharp rise in chicken prices across Karnataka, leaving consumers and small traders struggling to cope with the sudden surge.

With a major share of Karnataka’s poultry supply dependent on farms in Tamil Nadu, the disruption has had an immediate and widespread impact on local markets. Karnataka sources a significant quantity of chicken meat from Tamil Nadu, particularly from poultry hubs such as Palladam, Coimbatore, Erode and Namakkal.

However, since January 1, poultry farmers in Tamil Nadu have launched an indefinite shutdown of farming activities, demanding higher rearing charges and relief from escalating input costs. As production has come to a standstill, the inflow of chicken meat into Karnataka has drastically reduced.

According to poultry farmers, companies currently pay them around ₹6.50 per kilogram for rearing broiler chickens, a rate they say is no longer viable. Farmers are demanding that this be increased to at least ₹15–₹20 per kilogram, citing steep hikes in electricity tariffs, labour wages, feed prices and veterinary medicine costs.

The failure of talks with poultry companies has hardened the farmers’ stance, intensifying the strike. The supply crunch has had a direct effect on prices in Karnataka. In December, chicken meat was selling at ₹200–₹240 per kg in most markets.

Over the past few weeks, prices have jumped to ₹300–₹320 per kg, with some areas reporting even higher rates due to limited availability. In several local markets, consumers complain that chicken meat is either scarce or completely unavailable on certain days.

The situation has worsened after reports emerged that more than 10 leaders of the farmers’ protest in Tamil Nadu were detained by police, further escalating tensions and reducing the chances of an immediate resolution.

As a result, poultry companies are reportedly not supplying new chicks to farms, while fully grown birds are also being withheld from the market. All eyes are now on a proposed tripartite meeting scheduled for January 21, where the Tamil Nadu government, poultry farmers and company representatives are expected to hold talks.

Traders and consumers in Karnataka are hopeful that the meeting will lead to a breakthrough and restore normal supply chains. Ravikumar, state treasurer of a poultry farmers’ association, said the ongoing agitation has led to a severe mismatch between demand and supply. “With farmers in Tamil Nadu refusing to rear new birds, production has dropped sharply. This has pushed up prices in Karnataka as well,” he said.

Meanwhile, retail chicken shop owners say they have little choice but to pass on the increased costs to consumers. “We are being charged higher wholesale rates, and there is limited supply. Selling at old prices is impossible,” said Imam, a poultry trader. Until the dispute is resolved, consumers may have to brace for continued high prices.

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