Poultry Prices Surge in Kashmir Amid Supply Disruptions

Residents of Baramulla and other parts of Kashmir are facing significantly inflated prices for essential food items, with chicken retailing at ₹190 per kilogram and eggs reaching ₹220 per tray. These rates, considered unusually high for the summer season, follow prolonged disruptions in the local mutton supply chain. As the availability of more traditional protein sources remains inconsistent, consumer reliance on poultry has spiked, driving retail prices upward beyond expected seasonal norms.

Poultry traders point to the convergence of increased demand and rising transportation costs as the primary catalysts for the ongoing price hikes. Despite reports that mutton dealers have officially called off their strike, the supply chain has yet to normalize, leaving a supply-demand gap that retailers are leveraging. Local residents expressed frustration over the perceived lack of administrative oversight, alleging that shopkeepers are capitalizing on the supply crunch without fear of regulatory intervention.

Local consumer groups have urged the Baramulla district administration to take immediate action against potential profiteering. There is a strong public demand for a more transparent pricing mechanism to ensure that essential commodities remain affordable during this period of market instability. Officials are under pressure to stabilize local markets, monitor wholesale activity, and verify if the high retail costs are justified by legitimate supply chain expenses or are the result of unauthorized price gouging by local middlemen.