January 18, 2021

Poultry farms in Maharashtra, India cut production of broilers by around 50%

About 50,000 poultry farms in Maharashtra, India, have cut production of broilers by around 50% following a decline in poultry consumption due to a recent avian influenza scare, The Times of India reported on January 13.

The poultry farms include 20,000 in Nashik district.

Speaking to The Times of India, Udhhav Aher, the secretary of the Poultry Farmers and Breeders' Welfare Association, Maharashtra, said the poultry farms in the state have cut production over the past five to six days.

"They will continue with the current 50% production target of the broiler birds for the next few days — until the present stock of chicken is cleared. The poultry farms will increase or decrease the production only after assessing the scenario after a week," said Aher.

"The wholesale price of the chicken had declined from Rs90 (US$1.23) per kilogramme to Rs55 (US$1) per kilogramme over last week. However, the price has slightly improved to Rs60 (US$0.82) per kilogramme in the past four days."

Aher added: "After the COVID-19 outbreak, the wholesale prices of chicken were badly hit. But the present rates are much better than they were earlier. Therefore, we are expecting the rates will improve again gradually."

- The Times of India