422 companies including 47 global and experts congregate for South Asia’s biggest poultry event underway in Hyderabad from Nov 22nd to 24th at HITEX, Hyderabad, Telangana.
Hyderabad, November 21, 2023: Despite challenges across all fronts, India’s broiler production for 2019 is projected to increase by 7 percent to nearly 6 million tons, processed chicken meat demand is projected to grow between 10-21 percent and layer production is forecast at 125 billion eggs!
This success story –envy of almost all developed nations – would not have been possible without steadfast endeavours Indian poultry farmers who have collectively raised poultry to become a phenomenal 120,000 crore industry and one of the prime sectors focusing on food and nutritional security of the nation.
As the world’s 2rd largest egg producer, India today is the Third largest chicken producer after China and USA. “There is no gainsaying the fact poultry industry is playing a flagship role of being India’s champion to eradicate malnourishment and protein deficiency in the country,” said Uday Singh Bayas, President, Indian Poultry Equipment Manufacturers’ Association (IPEMA), organisers of this mega event in Hyderabad which is now in its 15th year.During its 14 year of existence, Poultry India has reached out to the communities and the government to deliver inexpensive easily available healthy proteins to school going children, youth and young mothers through various All-India rural and semi-urban programmes. Mr Uday Singh Bayas, President, – IPEMA was speaking at a media conference to announce the beginning of the 15th Knowledge Day Technical Seminar (November 21st) at HICC and the 15th Poultry India Expo (November 22-24) at HITEC City. He was joined by several members of the Executive Advisory Committee, all Industry stalwarts from across the country.
Poultry India Expo – South Asia’s biggest – has attracted a record 380 companies from India and 45 companies from abroad and is expected to draw over 30,000 business visitors across 32,500sqm and 6 exhibition halls at the HITEC venue which is the pride of Hyderabad. The 3-day exhibition starts on November 22. On November 21, the much acclaimed Knowledge Day will shed light on various factors that beset the poultry industry. More than 1500 delegates from India,Africa, Europe, USA and SAARC nations will listen to the world’s finest minds speak on the latest scientific innovations in breeding, hygiene, nutrition, animal health, poultry equipment and marketing.
“However I am happy our Government is determined to safeguard our sector so that we continue to produce world class poultry meat and eggs. Today India’s poultry industry, with its enabling of low cost model with increased productivity, is a showcase of success across the world. It is one of the key contributors to India’s Agriculture and Animal Husbandry GDP. It contributes significantly to the eradication of protein deficiency and malnutrition and employ millions, especially women from rural India and has spawned dozens of small and medium entrepreneurs producing downstream products and services for the industry,” he added
Poultry industry has grown by leaps and bounds due to strict housekeeping, exacting ventilation, feeding practices, automation and disease control mechanism ministered by responsible and trained farmers.
The Exhibition’s main aim is to help farmers keep abreast of latest developments in management, animal health & nutrition, breeding, poultry farm equipment and new techniques in feed manufacturing and poultry production at an affordable cost.
NOTE ON INDIAN POULTRY INDUSTRY – APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT
The Indian poultry sector contributing Rs. 1.25 Lakhs crores per annum to National GDP is one of the most important sectors of Indian agriculture and allied activities.
The Indian poultry sector is providing direct employment to over 25,000 layer farmers and 10 lakhs broiler farmers providing much need gainful employment in rural India.
Eggs and chicken are most ideal protein consumed by lower and middle class households which helps in eradicating malnutrition amongst the poor people.
Even today India has more than 1/3rd of the population below the poverty line and due to low protein consumption; malnutrition is widely rampant in Rural India.
However per capital availability of eggs in India at present is 90 and chicken meat is 5 kilos requiring the industry to double its output to meet the domestic protein needs of the country.
As per National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) the recommended per capita consumption of eggs is 180 and chicken meat is 9 kilos.
Though India is ranking 2nd in the world for egg production and 4th for chicken meat production, there are great prospects for growth due to requirement with the country and as well as prospects for exports.
India is geographically ideally located to cater to the requirement of Middle East and African countries which Indian poultry is yet to tap thereby giving great scope for future.
Indian poultry requires approximately 35 million tons of feed every year consuming 16 – 17 MN tons of maize, 4.5 MN tons of DO Soya and other agricultural bi-products used in poultry feed like, DORB, DO Soya, DO Sunflower, DDGS, rapeseed cake etc.
Only because of poultry requirement, 2 million maize farmers in the country are able to get suitable price for their products and use of agricultural by products in poultry feed helps over all Indian agricultural economy.
As of now, eggs and chicken are consumed in wet form and not much of processing or value addition is currently made except for 5% in chicken meat segment.
Further, after the outbreak of Covid, there is a general awareness amongst public that protein is very essential for immunity building and life style changes adopted during covid promoted processed chicken consumption in big way giving scope for new chicken processing plants and prospects for its huge growth in the coming years.
While in the earlier areas, the rearing system was mostly in open house and use of locally available feed ingredients, the focus for the new farms is with the state of art technology like EC farms; well-balanced compounded pellet feed and concentrates.
Appeal To Government For Some Relief Measures
Ø Feed is the major cost in poultry production where cereals like maize, protein like DO Soya cake are used.
Ø While the industry is growing rapidly, the availability of cereals specially maize has been a concern because 70% of the maize is grown is in Khariff which is mostly depended on the vagaries of monsoon.
Ø The alternate cereal like broken rice, are currently preferred and diverted by government for Ethanol production and Maize also has a competitive use in addition to poultry feed like starch, ethanol and exports thereby pushing Maize price above viability for poultry production.
Ø Similarly other millets like jowar, Ragi are preferred for human consumption because of its nutritive value and therefore, their price is much higher than maize, making it difficult to use for poultry feed.
Ø It is therefore, required for the policy makers to provide sufficient corn to sustain and support the growth of poultry industry like :
- Advocate GM maize and thereby increasing the productivity and over all availability in the country.
- Providing level playing field by allowing import of maize whenever there is parity for direct use by poultry producers.
- Lastly encourage maize cultivation in states like Punjab and Haryana instead of Paddy which uses high amount of water and power consumption and not advised by economists.
- Permit export of DO Soya only to the extent what is surplus and make available DO soya for domestic consumption by the Indian Poultry Industry.
- The processing industry is still in its nascent stage and has a great potential for growth as well as exports. It needs to be nurtured and support provided. Therefore the government is requested to provide investment incentives and subsidies by way of interest rates at agriculture rate and support through tax and other subsidies.
Ø The industry is constantly put under harassment by the so called activists asking for cage ban, environment pollution claims and other bogy claims like residues. We are highly thankful to the state and central governments who have always stood with the poultry industry in fighting such agencies and enabling us to present our case through media and courts appropriately. We are greatly indebted to the policy makers to continue to support us in all our future endeavours.
