Dry season takes toll on some poultry farms

In some poultry farms, electric fans are helping chicken weather the extreme heat, according to a report by Bernadette Reyes in "24 Oras."

Despite this, a farm in Santiago in Isabela province still logs up to 30 chicken deaths a day.

“Mahi-highblood talaga pagka sobrang init, kaya nilalagyan talaga namin ng electric fan para medyo malamigan,” farm owner Rolly Marayag said.

The president of the United Broiler Raisers Association, Bong Inciong, said the more serious challenge would come in May, when the temperature level becomes higher.

“Ngayon bandang tanghali napakainit, hanggang alas dos alas tres, bagamat sa gabi hanggang madaling araw medyo lumalamig pa rin. Ang magiging hamon n'yan pagdating ng mayo dire-diretsyo na 'yan ng init,” he said.

The dry season adds to the existing problem of low supply and high chicken production costs, which have continued since February.

Currently, the chicken farm gate prices increased to P112 per kilo this March.

“Hanggang ngayon naman mahal pa rin ang presyo ng patuka,” Inciong said.

According to some vendors, a kilo of chicken at Munoz Market in Quezon City reaches up to P200 or P20 higher than the previous cost.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is confident that the industry can deal with the effects of heat on poultry houses as it will continue to provide corn subsidies to farmers to reduce feed costs.

Moreover, cheaper chicken and pork meat will be offered but only at Kadiwa stores.

“‘Pag derecho sa ating producers, direct to Kadiwa mas mababa sya unlike retail magbabayad sila ng logistics. We have enough supply of frozen goods for the pork and for the chicken,” DA deputy spokesperson Rex Estoperez said.—Sherylin Untalan/GMA Integrated News