Punjab's love for chicken is expected to cost 25 to 30 per cent more in the wake of nationwide beef ban. As per an analysis released by industry body Associated Chambers of Commerce of India (ASSOCHAM) on Monday the consumption of the chicken is also expected to raise by 35 to 40 per cent if beef ban come into force.

“Poultry wholesale price index has also risen over 22 per cent while that of beef and buffalo meat has declined about three per cent between May 2014 and March 2017,” noted the analysis carried out by ASSOCHAM Economic Research Bureau (AERB).

Besides production of poultry meat, mainly chicken has been steadily growing at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of about 10-12 per cent, while its consumption has been clocking a CAGR of 15-18 per cent during the course of past few years, said ASSOCHAM analysis. The analysis also noted that between June 2013 and May 2014, there was an increase in wholesale price levels of over 10 per cent in beef and buffalo meat while that of poultry chicken declined by about nine per cent.

“Beef ban and the related controversies have surely come as a blessing in disguise for poultry firms in states like Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and other key regions in this behalf,” said an ASSOCHAM spokesperson while releasing the findings of the chamber’s analysis.

As a part of further analysis, ASSOCHAM conducted a quick survey of about 100 poultry shops in the aforesaid states whereby majority of the respondents said that demand is picking up despite the onset of summer and currently there is about to 15-20 per cent rise in prices which might go up to 25 per cent and beyond more so owing to on-going Ramzan. Most of the respondents said that though both poultry demand and prices usually drop during summer but it is not so for 2017 due to ban on beef.

Apart from a sudden ban, “rising per capita income, growth in quick service restaurants are other key reasons for growing demand and consumption of meat in India,” said ASSOCHAM spokesperson. “Government needs to encourage poultry farmers to give them level playing field against developed countries in terms of export or import market,” the chamber suggested.