The importance of something is realized only in its absence. The chicken is a classic description of the food that has somehow gone out of our lives. The bird flu with its sordid impact has wiped out the chicken from our tastebuds, dining tables, kitchens and even the markets. In spite of the advisory of cooking the meat for 70+ degrees (which every human being cooks at), the state government is chickened to allow consumption. And the result? I haven’t tasted it for over a month now.
Now to the economics behind the whole safeguard. The government ordered culling of fowl in all the infected districts, and allotted 700 crore for the initiative. As expected, poultry farmers did not get their share, and did their best to hamper the operations. With the bird flu reaching the adjoining districts of Kolkata, all Buddhadeb government could do was to make the sale of chicken and eggs illegal.
Before this rule came into effect, the prices had dropped from a high of Rs 80 or 90 to Rs 35, thanks to lowering demand. And after the ban on the sale, traders will have to make do with selling illegally (at a lower price) or by sharing among friends.
This has increased the demand on its substitutes: mutton and paneer. Prices of these items have risen 10-15% in the past 2 months. The marriage season also saw costs going up; since mutton is much more expensive. Restaurants are not serving chicken any more.
Over all, the bird flu has caused quite havoc in the food market.
What else can one do but to wait for this phase to get over? But once it does and the fowls reach the market, the prices will only be 50% higher than the pre virus stages. And the prices of its substitutes will fall immediately.
At least we will have something to look up to!!
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