NewsWhore
08-02-2011, 03:30 PM
At a meeting held yesterday with the Minister of Agriculture, poultry farmers suggested that the price of a pound of chicken should not be higher than RD$49 a pound. This does not tally with prices at retail sales points in the poorer barrios. In markets and supermarkets a pound of chicken sells for RD$50 and RD$50 a pound.
Nevertheless, the price of fresh-killed poultry being sold at the popular kiosks in barrios ranges between RD$43 and RD$45 a pound, so the price suggested by the farmers, in the presence of administration officials and officials from consumer protection body Pro-Consumidor could lead to a price increase in the barrios. The poultry farmers admitted that they have been losing money for several months but they made a small adjustment recently and obtained a profit margin of RD$2.50 a pound. Nonetheless, the farmers had said a month ago that the profit margin was RD$10. Diario Libre reports that the cost of producing a chicken on the farm is RD$25.58 a pound, but they sell for RD$28.50 in the Cibao, RD$31 in Santo Domingo and RD$29.50 in the South, according to the farmers.
Bolivar Cartagena, the president of the Poultry Commission, reported that in April they were losing RD$50 for each bird they produced and the loss was RD$10 of cost since they were selling at RD$15 on the farm. The poultry producers met with the authorities in order to respond to Pro-Consumidor's complaint that the farmers had eliminated a large number of birds in order to influence market prices. Wilfredo Santos and Rita Gonzalez of Pro-Consumidor maintained the agency's stance on the complaint during the meeting and they stressed their adherence to the law.
Nevertheless the farmers told officials that the prices on the farm have been stable, and price variations are due to speculation. "There is a lot of speculation with the price of chicken that does not match the real price," said Cabrera.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#4)
Nevertheless, the price of fresh-killed poultry being sold at the popular kiosks in barrios ranges between RD$43 and RD$45 a pound, so the price suggested by the farmers, in the presence of administration officials and officials from consumer protection body Pro-Consumidor could lead to a price increase in the barrios. The poultry farmers admitted that they have been losing money for several months but they made a small adjustment recently and obtained a profit margin of RD$2.50 a pound. Nonetheless, the farmers had said a month ago that the profit margin was RD$10. Diario Libre reports that the cost of producing a chicken on the farm is RD$25.58 a pound, but they sell for RD$28.50 in the Cibao, RD$31 in Santo Domingo and RD$29.50 in the South, according to the farmers.
Bolivar Cartagena, the president of the Poultry Commission, reported that in April they were losing RD$50 for each bird they produced and the loss was RD$10 of cost since they were selling at RD$15 on the farm. The poultry producers met with the authorities in order to respond to Pro-Consumidor's complaint that the farmers had eliminated a large number of birds in order to influence market prices. Wilfredo Santos and Rita Gonzalez of Pro-Consumidor maintained the agency's stance on the complaint during the meeting and they stressed their adherence to the law.
Nevertheless the farmers told officials that the prices on the farm have been stable, and price variations are due to speculation. "There is a lot of speculation with the price of chicken that does not match the real price," said Cabrera.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#4)