July 23, 2012

India to attain world's record broiler meat output in 2012

Due to new production techniques and a strong domestic demand, India will achieve a record broiler meat output in the world this year, P. Selvaraj, Vice- Chairman, Broiler Coordination Committee, the apex body for country's broiler trade, said Friday (July 20).

"The poultry sector has grown at more than 15% in the past three years. The production capacity has gone up with large integrated players taking up contract poultry-farming," said Selvaraj.

The broiler meat production within the country has increased over 30% in the last four years. In 2011 production increased by 10% to 2.9 million tonnes.

According to USDA estimate, India's broiler meat output will increase by 450,000 tonnes to a record 3.2 million tonnes this year itself.

"India's broiler production is revised upwards to a record figure based on a robust domestic demand fuelled by an expanding middle-class and changing tastes and preferences together with the emergence of vertically integrated poultry producers that support increasing production," the department stated in a report.

While the global broiler meat output has been cut to 82.1 million tonnes on account of higher feed and operating costs, India stands out as the lone achiever challenging its closest rival, Mexico.

Domestic consumption was 2.8 million tonnes in 2011. It is also likely to touch a high of 3.1 million tonnes this year, the report said. Selvaraj said exports had taken a hit since 2006 due to the continual outbreak of bird flu in some pockets of the country.

"But we are optimistic about the ever-increasing demand on home turf outpacing supply. Industry players are keen on catering to the domestic market and some of them are drawing up plans to enter retail market in a big way," he said.

India is more of a live-bird market and just 2-3% accounts for the frozen market, that is, processed or dressed chicken. But all these numbers would change in a couple of years as consumption of dressed meat is growing at a slow and steady pace providing companies chances to offer more developed products for the home market, he added.