Khaberni - The General Manager of the Jordanian Farmers Union; Engineer Mahmoud Al-Awran; confirmed that chicken prices in the local market have been witnessing a clear decline for several weeks, amidst a recession in local demand, both for fresh chicken and broiler chicken.
Al-Awran explained that the demand for poultry during the current autumn transition period is modest, pointing out that the weak purchasing power of consumers, alongside the geopolitical factors in the region and the absence of tourism activity, has directly affected commercial activity, not only in the poultry sector but in various commercial sectors, according to opinion.
He further stated that the peak season during this summer was the lowest in years, with commercial activity not exceeding 60% compared to previous seasons.
He pointed out that many tourist establishments and restaurants, which usually form a main tributary for the demand for meat and poultry, have experienced a decline in consumption due to a decrease in the number of visitors and both Arab and foreign tourists.
Al-Awran indicated that the demand in the local market barely matches the volume of quantities offered, whereas in previous years demand levels exceeded supply, which maintained price stability or increased them at times.
This year, according to Al-Awran, the demand has significantly declined, leading to an abundance of supply and a significant decrease in prices, pushing traders and farmers to offer promotions and pricing promotions in an attempt to stimulate the market.
Al-Awran mentioned that even during the peak season, which coincided with the return of expatriates and numerous events and celebrations, poultry prices did not exceed their known limits; the price of fresh chicken remained below 1.70 Jordanian dinars per kilogram, while the price of broiler chicken stabilized at around 1.45 dinars.
He pointed out that local markets are currently witnessing further price reductions, where the prices of broiler chickens in most provinces ranged between 1.15 and 1.22 dinars per kilogram, while the current price of fresh chicken ranges between 1.30 dinars and 1.69 dinars, emphasizing that these levels are the lowest for long periods and reflect the recession that the local market is experiencing.
Regarding the challenges of farmers, Al-Awran confirmed that the problems of the sector are still the same as two decades ago, with the main issues being the high production costs of feed, electricity, fuels, transportation, and labor costs.
He reiterated that what is new in the scene is the absence of facilitated financing which previously helped farmers during downturns, explaining that many farmers now face difficulties in obtaining financing due to some of them being in arrears due to weak returns and falling prices.
Concerning the climatic situation, Al-Awran explained that the current weather conditions are largely ideal for poultry farming, as there are no indications of diseases or environmental challenges that could negatively impact production.
He noted that this contributed to the stability of farm production and the continued flow of poultry to the markets in large quantities, but on the other hand, the limited demand has kept prices at very low levels.
Al-Awran emphasized the need to find practical solutions to support farmers, whether through financial facilitations, and stressed the importance of encouraging the tourism sector due to its direct impact on the consumption of local food products.
He estimated that the daily consumption in the kingdom is approximately 600,000 chickens, in addition to about 4 million eggs daily.
He explained that the kingdom has about 2,000 chicken farms, of which 300 are dedicated to laying hens and 100 for breeding mothers, in addition to 8 major projects for poultry production and breeding.
