Beef, chicken prices on the rise
A lady bargains for the price of chicken in Oyam Town in 2018. Currently, the prices of chicken are high in Lira due to shortage. PHOTO BY BILL OKETCH
Retail prices of beef and chicken have skyrocketed in Lira Town due to shortage of livestock, Daily Monitor has established.
The prices of goat meat and beef have risen to Shs14,000 and Shs12,000, up from Shs12,000 and Shs10,000 respectively.
Traders say there is shortage of livestock because farmers now prefer selling their produce instead of animals or chicken.
Lango Sub-region has recorded a bumper harvest of food crops due to favourable weather.
“Right now, there is shortage of livestock and chicken in the market because farmers are not willing to sell their animals and birds,” Mr Peter Oteng, a trader, says.
“A bull that used to cost Shs800,000 is now being sold between Shs1.5 million and Shs2 million,” he adds.
Mr Charles Awee, a butcher, says the shortage of livestock has not affected his daily sales.
“The good thing is that I have my customers that I always supply with meat. On a good day, I can still slaughter two bulls and sell all the meat,” he says.
The rising prices of meat and chicken have affected the profit margin of restaurants.
Ms Molly Akena, a restaurant owner opposite Shell Lira, on Saturday said she stopped cooking chicken due to the high prices.
“We used to sell a plate of both pasted goat meat and beef at Shs3,000, until recently when we increased to Shs4,000 and Shs5,000 and the new rate is chasing away customers,” she says.
Mr Charles Okello, a boda boda rider, says when he goes to a restaurant, he buys only greens.
At most restaurants, a plate of chicken used to cost between Shs5,000 and Shs6,000 but now it is going for Shs7,000 and Shs10,000.
The chairperson of poultry dealers on Obote Avenue, Mr Richard Eyen, says chicken that used to go for Shs20,000, now goes for Shs26,000.
A hen that used to cost Shs14,000 three weeks ago, has also gone to Shs20,000.
Mr Eyen attributed the rise in the prices to shortage of supply of chicken by farmers whom he said are reaping more from farm produce.
“This is something that happens every year when farmers have harvested their crops,” he says.
