The panic selling by poultry owners in July-August following a bird flu case in Manipur had led to a shortage, which in turn drove up the prices.

In the last one month, the wholesale market prices of live chicken have jumped by 30 per cent from Rs 50 to Rs 65 a kg, while the retail prices of chicken meat have increased by 35 per cent from Rs 85 to Rs 115 a kg.

“This is the highest-ever rate of broiler chicken in the domestic market. After the news of bird flu outbreak, the fear of loss prompted poultry traders to dump their broilers at every possible rate while the farmers stopped putting chicks in their farms”, said Surjit Singh, managing director of Chandigarh-based Sagri Hatcheries.

In July, about 2 lakh birds were culled in Manipur following confirmation of the bird flu case.