Poultry farmers say that international chicken prices are between 30% and 40% above local prices, so it is much cheaper here.LEONEL MATOS
Santo Domingo—A pound of “hot chicken,” slaughtered, chopped, and marketed in stalls, costs up to RD$100 in some parts of the country, such as the city of Moca, an area of great white meat production.
This situation would not attract attention if it were not for the fact that a pound of chicken is twice as cheap on the farm.
Chicken producers maintain that the farm-gate price ranges between RD$42 and RD$46.
“There is speculation about the price of chicken,” said an alarmed consumer who told this media that in Moca, it is being sold at up to RD$100 without any control of this. In grocery stores in the Capital, the price ranges between RD$80 and RD$85 per pound of fresh chicken, while in markets, it can be obtained between RD$75 and RD$85. Fresh or frozen whole chicken is priced differently in supermarkets but does not reach RD$90.
According to a poultry farmer’s explanation, the possibility of speculation is real because the price increase is due to four factors. Although it has begun to improve, production equal to that of December is expected next September.
In these months, there were no imports, the heat increased, and poor-quality raw materials arrived, which led to a low yield in June and July, and the population’s consumption increased.
The increase and possible speculation are attributed to middlemen. Currently, there are 30 million hatching eggs, and the Dominican Poultry Farmers Association (ADA) reported yesterday that a record production of 21.8 million chicken units is expected for September.
Jose Luis Polanco, president of the ADA, said that supply is improving and that supply will be adjusted to meet demand as the heat drops.
Inespre sells the four-pound chickens weekly at RD$150 per unit at the 95 producers’ markets and 120 mobile warehouses.
ADA president Jose Luis Polanco said that chicken production continues to offer more competitive consumer prices than international prices and that per capita demand has reached 46.8 kilograms, one of the highest levels in the region.
Yesterday, the price of a pound of free-range (live) chicken delivered was worth RD$51.50, and some brands were selling it at RD$64.50 and RD$67.68 to supermarkets, explained an agricultural expert.