July 13, 2010

 

India's poultry industry heads on to bright future

The poultry industry in India is growing as an organised sector without much interference from the government despite many blockages such as rising input and production costs.

 

The poultry industry has recorded impressive growth with good prospects for future during the last couple of decades. Currently the annual production of eggs is over 53,000 million and 3.2 million tonnes of poultry meat. The country is now among the biggest egg and broiler producers in the world.

 

According to news sources, with the current production level, the poultry sector contributes about US$9.3 billion to the gross national product and provides direct and indirect employment to over 3.2 million people.

 

Additionally, over 20 million corn farmers and 500,000 soy farmers are directly dependent on the poultry sector, as more than 80% of the corn and a very substantial share of soy meal produced in the country are used by the poultry industry.

 

The leading poultry state, Andhra Pradesh, produces over 30% of the country's eggs followed by Tamil Nadu (15%), Punjab & Haryana (14%) and Karnataka (8%). Region-wise, South India shares over 50% of production.

 

The per capita consumption of eggs has also gone up to 41 from an estimated 32 in 2005, according to reports. The poultry sector has undergone a paradigm shift in structure and operation - its transformation from merely a backyard activity into a major commercial activity has developed in a very short time.

 

With good quality feeds, better hybrids and proper management, production of up to 300 eggs per hen housed is obtained on many farms. Considerable support from the veterinary, health and poultry equipment manufacturers contributed to rapid expansion.

 

Furthermore, there has also been phenomenal growth in the broiler sector as well. Before, broiler farms produced an average of 200-500 chicks per cycle. Today, units with less than 5,000 are becoming rare and units with 10,000-50,000 broilers per week are common. Many small layer units shifted to broilers as they are able to recycle their incomes in six weeks.