Kathmandu, May 12 -- Chicken meat and egg prices have risen sharply of late, with poultry traders citing soaring temperatures and reduced production as the leading causes. However, consumer rights advocates dispute this explanation, accusing traders of artificially inflating prices through cartel-like behaviour.

According to the Poultry Market Management Association, the wholesale price of chicken has jumped to Rs390 per kilogram, while retailers charge between Rs410 and Rs450 per kilogram in different parts of the country. Just a month ago, prices hovered around Rs380 per kilogram.

Junga Bahadur BC, president of the association, attributed the price hike to a significant drop in production, especially in the Tarai region, where scorchi...