The increased demand for chickens and eggs This is what has forced the importation of these products from Brazil and Belgium, as explained to Listín Diario by the president of the Dominican Poultry Association (ADA). Jose Lopez.
The representative of the poultry producers indicated that agreed with the Government since March to resort to importing these products from Brazil and Belgium to complete the inventoryand assured that “until now” this does not affect national producers.
López pointed out that they are arriving in the countryfive and six weekly containers of frozen chicken from Brazil and that this will continue until October. He added that 2,000 boxes of eggs are received weekly from Belgium.
He added that the prices of the eggs that are being imported are more expensive than those produced in the country, since they cost US$85 plus a box of 360 units, however, he indicated that the important thing is to supply the national market.
When asked if this is going to affect the pockets of the families, López affirmed “it is going to affect the pockets of the producers, but what we are doing is fulfilling a responsibility that we have, which is to produce food for the people.”
The poultry producer and past president of ADA, Pavel Concepción, pointed out that frozen chickens that come from Brazil are arriving in significant volumes in the country, although he did not specify the quantity or the prices at which they are sold.
Regarding the sale price of the fresh Creole chicken, he said that in his stalls a pound of this meat is sold for RD$76.
Until October
The president of the ADA assured that until the month of October they will be importing the eggs and chickens necessary to meet the demand of the population and that they will then evaluate if the national producers are in a position to supply the entire demand of the market.
He explained that the over demand for chicken and eggs could be associated with the reduction of pork and beef.
Of good quality
The representative of the poultry farmers assured that the chickens that arrive from Brazil are of very good quality and that the population can rest easy regarding their consumption.
Shortage
In recent weeks in different parts of the country, residents have complained about the shortage of chicken and the prices at which this food is found.
Chicken producers in the Cibao region have recognized that there is a shortage and speculation with the prices of this product, despite efforts to increase production.
fight against speculation
In the middle of this week, the executive director of the National Institute for the Protection of Consumer Rights (Pro Consumer), Eddy Alcántara, announced that the institution began to adopt “concrete actions” to avoid agiotismo and commercial speculation with chicken meat, which he said generates uncertainty in consumers.
Alcántara said that before the unjustified fluctuation that has been taking place in the price of a pound of chicken, will recommend to President Luis Abinader measures that will help confront this scourge in order to make the price of white meat more honest.
The official maintained that, according to an investigation carried out at the institution, it was verified that there is voracity on the part of some sectors that have been incurring in the figure of commercial speculation with this product.
He said that this situation, which is detrimental to consumers, is affecting the fluctuation of chicken meat.
Alcántara pointed out that as soon as it is verified that the aforementioned practice is being incurred, the inspectors of Pro Consumidor initiate the process of permanent market surveillance throughout the national territory.
Up 1.22%
The Central Bank, in its May report on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), reported that the price of fresh chicken increased 1.22%.
Foods
In the behavior of the CPI for May, the groups with the highest incidence in the growth of the index were Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages (0.96%).
Other products
Other products that suffered increases were: cassava (11.15%), avocados (14.52%), soybean oil (2.45%), onions (5.66%), green bananas (1.85%), purified water (1.21%) and rice (0.56%).
