‘Fair price needed’ for chicken farmers

May 13 2008 by Tom Patterson, The Journal

SHOPPERS want to buy British chicken but producers need to receive a fair price to ensure they can meet the demand in the long term, the NFU said yesterday.

The message came as poultry producers gather at this year’s Pig and Poultry Fair at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.

NFU poultry board chairman Charles Bourns said more money needed to be passed back down the supply chain to safeguard the sector’s future. He said production costs in the chicken meat sector have risen by nearly 25% (14p/kg liveweight) in the past year, but producers are not receiving enough money back to cover their costs.

A survey carried out by the NFU revealed that, on average, producers are making a loss of 2.7% on every bird they produce once production costs are added in. Mr Bourns said: “A recent British Marketing Survey showed consumers are still actively seeking to buy assured British chicken.

“But we need to ensure enough money is passed back down the supply chain to make businesses economically viable in the long term.

“Consumers tastes are changing and producers are ready and willing to produce what shoppers want to buy. But in order to be able to keep up with these changing demands producers must receive enough money to ensure their businesses are sustainable.”

Mr Bourns added that producers could not continue to absorb the cost of rising input prices without receiving a fairer return.