A number of citizens have been complaining about the rising shortage and the high prices of poultry on the domestic market, ahead of the month of Ramadan.
For instance, the price of imported Australian meat has reached LE40 per kilogram. Housewife Samira Mandour said: "Imported poultry is not easily available and the majority of citizens have no access to it."
"The price of the subsidized Brazilian chicken is LE17 per kilogram, while 1kg of white chicken costs between LE20 and LE22," she added. "A 1,5 kg chicken is worth LE30," she mentioned, complaining about the recurrence of the same crisis every season.
The total deficit this year reaches 250,000 birds per day. Last year's consumption reached 2,100,000 million, while Egypt only produced 1,900,000 chickens this year, said the head of the poultry division Abdel Aziz.
He ruled out that prices could decrease ahead of Ramadan, adding that they might increase by as much as 10 percent.
According to him, the estimate presented by the Supply Minister, who said one kilo of poultry would cost LE14, is "unrealistic".
He added that the poultry sector has been suffering since 2006 due to the bird flu crisis, stating that a stock exchange for poultry should be established, in order to control prices, in addition to legislation that would determine the allowed profit margin.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
