NewsEye Desk
Bandipora, July 13: Chicken prices have surged to nearly Rs 200 per kilogram in Bandipora, while a tray of eggs is being sold for around Rs 250, raising concerns among consumers over the sharp increase in poultry prices at a time when rates usually remain comparatively lower.
Residents said chicken is currently being sold at around Rs 200 per kilogram, while egg prices have touched Rs 250 per tray, putting an additional burden on households already grappling with rising living costs.
Saqib, a local resident, expressed surprise over the unusual increase, saying poultry rates generally remain lower during this time of the year.
“The rates used to be low during this time, but this is the first time I have seen prices rise like this,” he said.
Other consumers also expressed concern over the rising prices and urged the authorities concerned to intervene and ensure that poultry products are sold at fair and reasonable rates.
Fayaz Ahmad, a local chicken dealer, while speaking to NewsEye, attributed the increase to a shortage in the market, saying adverse weather conditions and floods in different states have affected supplies.
“The prices have increased because there is a shortage of chicken. Floods and heavy rains in different states have affected supplies, while rates also depend on availability and wholesale market prices,” he said.
Kashmir’s poultry market remains heavily dependent on supplies from outside the region, particularly Punjab and Haryana, making local prices vulnerable to disruptions in availability, transportation and wholesale markets.
According to a January 2026 report, Kashmir imports around 5.5 crore chickens annually, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, with between 40,000 and 50,000 birds supplied to the Valley every day by traders from Punjab.
Kashmir has witnessed similar price fluctuations during supply disruptions in the past.
In September 2025, chicken prices in markets, including Bandipora, Baramulla and Srinagar, reportedly rose from around Rs 125 per kilogram to Rs 190 following disruptions caused by the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. (NewsEye)
