Bolivia’s Deputy Minister for the Defence of User and Consumer Rights, Jorge Silva Trujillo, announced on 28 October 2024 that 40,000 chickens per day are being airlifted from the Santa Cruz region to La Paz, El Alto and Oruro to prevent price increases for this food staple among the Bolivian population.

The transportation of poultry meat is part of the airlift implemented by the national Government to guarantee food supply in the face of road blockades affecting the country. 

Silva reported that a “mass control plan” will also be carried out in the markets of La Paz and El Alto, with the aim of preventing speculators and middlemen from taking advantage of the situation. 

“The price per kilogram of chicken must remain at 16.50 bolivianos in Emapa stores, and between 17 and 17.50 bolivianos in the private market. We will carry out operations to ensure these prices are respected and that the country’s efforts to bring poultry meat through this airlift directly benefit the consumer,” he explained.

To carry out these operations, the Deputy Minister announced the participation of the Bolivian Police, the Municipal Government of La Paz, the Municipal Government of El Alto, and the National Agricultural Health and Food Safety Service.

Losses for poultry producers

All agricultural sectors in Santa Cruz have declared a state of emergency, firstly due to a chronic diesel shortage that is preventing production from leaving farming areas to reach supply centres. Likewise, the losses for the poultry sector are enormous, as planned production destined for the rest of the country has been unable to leave due to blockades that have been in place for 15 days.

As a result, chicken production will not return to normal levels for Christmas 2024, producers have warned.