Poultry prices in Egypt have jumped by almost 15%
The prices of pasture chicks recorded a 22.58 percent increase, going up from EGP 31 to EGP 38 per chick.
On a similar note, 21 people involved in a monopolization scheme for eggs have recently been caught.
Current market status
According to Mario Elbardise, a member of the Poultry Committee, there are current fluctuations in prices in the market due to some shortages in medicine.
This drives farm owners to refrain from raising chickens, which decreases the market supply relative to the demand, he added.
Egypt has witnessed a significant medicine shortage in recent months ranging between 20 and 40 percent, while shortages in active ingredients ranged between 15 and 20 percent according to Mohie Hafez, a member of the board of directors of Chamber Industry of Cosmetics & Medical Supplies.
Elbardise added that 70 percent of farms in Egypt are family-owned, so they are not equally equipped for raising chickens as companies that have a closed-chamber system to control temperatures.
He explained that the severe heatwave this summer made farmers avoid raising chickens, as they would not be able to pay their obligations if many mortalities occurred.
Elbardise also highlighted the importance of adopting closed-chamber systems for family-owned farms to protect their poultry from diseases and varying temperatures.
He also stated that there is a shortage in manpower, as qualified manpower is not available enough and there is a gap in salary between getting a qualified individual and getting someone who needs training.
He added that 70 to 75 percent of production is imported from abroad.
On another note, there has been a presidential call for the expansion of the cultivation of oilseed crops that can be used as alternative ingredients in feeding poultry and livestock.
Elbardise noted that poultry prices are expected to be fixed or decreased in the upcoming period thanks to the current provision of feed.
He added that the Cairo Chamber of Commerce holds exhibitions to contain prices.
Annual headline inflation in Egypt exhibited a slight increase in August, recording 25.6 percent compared to 25.2 percent in July mainly caused by rises in vegetable prices and services, such as transport and healthcare.