‘Sravana Masam’ leads to drop in poultry, fish trade across Chittoor district

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A poultry farm near Palamaner in Chittoor district. | Photo Credit: Arrangement

The ongoing auspicious ‘Sravana Masam’ has reportedly led to a noticeable slowdown in non-vegetarian food consumption across Chittoor district and the adjoining border areas of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The scenario is visible in poultry markets, where traders and farmers report a sharp fall in demand. Retail chicken prices, which stood at around ₹320 per kg, have fallen to ₹200 and, in some markets, even below that level, bringing pressure on growers, wholesalers and retailers.

The downturn is felt more accurately in Chittoor, one of India’s major poultry-producing belts. Government export-promotion data records annual production of about 13,320 lakh eggs (1.33 billion) and 54,820 tonnes of poultry meat in Chittoor, with exports to the Gulf and South East Asia. The district has 31 mandals and about 822 villages, providing a wide rural network of poultry units and domestic markets.

The poultry is evenly concentrated in Chittoor, Palamaner, Punganur, Bangarupalem, Kuppam, Gudupalle, Ramakuppam, Nagari mandals and the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border belt, where poultry movement is closely linked to neighbouring markets.

Fish markets are also reportedly experiencing weaker consumer demand across Chittoor district. Apart from inland fisheries, the district also draws considerable seafood stocks from Tamil Nadu and Keralam coastal villages.

“The immediate concern is that despite falling prices, feed, labour, and other production costs remain largely unchanged. We expect this trend to subdue after the Sravana Masam, and the demand will naturally recover after the devotional season,” said Gunasekhar (35), a poultry farm owner near Palamaner.

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