Bhutan suspends poultry import from India
THIMPU - Bhutan has temporarily stopped import of dressed chicken and other poultry products from lone Indian supplier, Arambagh, as it feels the firm's monopoly has led to spiralling of retail prices of poultry products in the country.
2 February 2007
2 minute read
A kilogram of chicken, which costs Nu.70 (Rs.70) in the Indian border town of Jaigaon, jumps to almost double - between Nu.120-140 - by the time it reaches Thimphu, Bhutanese online Kuensel newspaper reported Thursday.
'It is an abnormal situation with only a few players. The supplier was not complying with the government's rule of having a transparent pricing system and in appointing dealers,' trade director Sonam P. Wangdi was quoted by Kuensel as saying.
Wangdi also blamed the Bhutanese and Indian middlemen in the supply chain for the soaring prices, the newspaper said.
'If the maximum retail price for chicken is Nu.70 in India it means all the margins are covered,' he said. 'By the time it gets into our country the increase should not exceed Nu.6 a kilogram.'
The newspaper reported that Arambagh was stopped from selling eggs here because of similar reasons.
Arambagh sold each egg for Nu.2.65, which costs less than Nu.2 in Jaigaon, Kuensel reported quoting trade officials.
Source: EARTHtimes.org
