Government will ensure sustainable growth path for the poultry industry: Javadekar
- Ministers Pocharam Srinivas Reddy & Etala Rajender inaugurate globally recognised 2015 Poultry India expo in Hyderabad
- Telangana considering move to treat poultry industry on par with agriculture sector.
- Minister Sajjad Ghani Lone makes pitch to poultry farmers to set up business in J&K
- Nadir B Godrej says future of poultry industry looks robust; sentiment echoed by over 21,500 visitors and 240 exhibitors from 40 nations
Hyderabad, December 2, 2015:Shri. Prakash Javadekar, Minister of State for Environment, Forests & Climate Change said his government is willing to ensure vested interests do not hamper Indian poultry industry’s growing global competitiveness and will further strengthen the industry which is among the world’s top five producers of eggs and chickens.
In a video message of welcome broadcast during the inauguration of the 9th edition of the Poultry India exhibition at the HITEX City, Hyderabad, Shri Javadekar said: “India has a strong competitive edge on the global stage and there are many people who want to bring it down; make it unviable. We will ensure that this does not happen. The farmer knows best how to keep his animals and birds comfortable. We will have a sustainable growth path for the poultry industry. That is the mantra. It not only provides huge rural employment opportunities, but also provides an important and cheap nutritional supplement in the form of an egg.”
The Union minister was referring to activists campaigning to ban India of modern “cage” systems saying birds are stressed in a cage housing environment.
Harish Garware, President of Indian Poultry Manufacturers Association and member of the Executive Advisory Committee, organisers of Poultry India exhibition said: “These ‘cages’ are actually laying nests for hens with proper feeding, watering, egg gathering and manure separating systems. They have proper cooling, heating and ventilation system to ensure optimum comfort. The fact that India is 3rd largest egg producer in the world proves that liveability and productivity of hens in India is good and hens are comfortable in the present housing system. I am happy that the Government of India is listening to our petition to urgently look into the very illogical ban of modern cage systems. Prof Dr. Ranade, renowned scientist of Bombay Veterinary College published a report substantiating the facts that hens reared in conventional cages, as practised in India, perform better when compared to ‘Enriched cages’ designed as per EU guide lines.”
Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Minister for Agriculture, Telangana, inaugurated the exhibition as chief guest. Also present at the inauguration was Telangana’s Minister of Finance, Planning & Civil Supplies, Etala Rajender and Sajjad Ghani Lone, Minister of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Science & Technology, Jammu & Kashmir; Sanjay Bhoosreddy, Jt Secretary-Animal Husbandry, Govt of India and heavyweights of the Indian poultry industry.
The 9thPoultry India exhibition concluded on November 27. It is now globally acknowledged as the biggest in South Asia and had attracted 240 exhibitors from India, SAARC countries, South East Asia, Europe, US and Australia. The 2016 edition of Knowledge Day and Poultry India Expo will be held in Hyderabad’s HITEX City from Nov 22-25.The overwhelming response from delegates for Knowledge Day, the technical seminar was unprecedented – 740, up from 620 last year. Visitors to the exhibition numbered more than 21,500 and came from as far as South America, Far East, South Asia, the Middle East and neighboring countries. Most importantly the 240 exhibitors from India and 40 nations were happy with the quality of visitors and have confirmed participation for the 10th edition next year.
Telangana to treat poultry on par with agriculture sector
The Telangana Government is considering a move to treat poultry industry on par with agriculture sector. This will help the industry access power and finance at far lower rates. He also promised to reduce tax on the purchase of equipment that went into the poultry farms “The Chief Minister, K Chandrasekahra Rao has formally agreed to the proposal. We hope to make it possible very soon. Poultry farmers were facing difficulties this year because of shortage of feed and high duties on imports of maize and soya. We urge the Central government to remove the duties and allow farmers to import corn,” Shri Rajender said. The Telangana Poultry industry had asked the State to reduce the tax from the present 15 per cent to 5 per cent on par with the tax in the neighbouring Maharashtra.
While Telangana ministers spoke of their state’s support to the poultry industry, Sajjad Ghani Lone has asked the poultry industry to set up modern farms in Jammu & Kashmir, saying his Government will ensure fast track implementation for those wanting to do poultry business in the state which has a very strong growth potential. Shri Rajneesh Gupta Principal Secretary Govt of Uttar Pradesh also highlighted various schemes to promote Poultry in the state, reiterating that Chief Minister Shri Akhilesh Yadav has given highest importance to Development of Poultry and Dairy industry in UP.
Nadir Godrej strikes a positive note for the industry
Nadir Burjorji Godrej, Managing Director, Godrej Industries and Chairman, Godrej Agrovet said the future of the poultry industry looks robust and key demographics like population growth, increasing per capita incomes, changing lifestyles and urbanization will drive demand for fine foods and aid growth for the poultry industry. Presently Per Capita poultry meat consumption in India is one of the lowest. It is 3.3kg in India in comparison to Brazil (47kgs) and USA (44kgs).
This sentiment was echoed by renowned exhibitors and top-notch farmers from India who, despite the present slump, said good things are in store for the poultry industry, including M.B. Desai Zonal Chairman National Egg Coordination Council; B. Soundarajan Chairman Suguna Foods; Bahadur Ali Managing Director IB Group; Jagbir Dhull CMD Skylark Group; KVS Subba Raju Zonal Chairman of National Egg Coordination Council; Dr G. Ranjith Reddy Chairman S.R. Group;D.Ram Reddy Managing Director Sneha Farms; Anil Dhumal Managing Director Dhumal industries; Chakradhar Rao ex-president of Indian Poultry Manufacturers Association; OP Singh Managing Director of ABTL; Milind Limaye Director Polchem Laboratories, among others.
India is the world's third-largest egg producer and fourth largest broiler chicken producer, -with a total market size of over Rs 93,000 crore. The poultry sector has been reporting a healthy growth of around 10% on the back of a rapidly growing middle class and rising incomes. Poultry Industry is also the only sector to employ more than 6.1 million people, particular rural Indians.
Protein Awareness Campaign
Poultry India has recommended to the central government to institute a National Protein Week supported by the Prime Minister offering to take the lead so that the message ‘1 gram of protein per 1 kg body weight every day’ reaches all corners of the country. Despite improvement in education levels and poverty elevation India unfortunately is still a malnourished, protein deficient nation and the world capital of TB, diabetes and obesity. India’s food culture has not yet evolved with times while a body cannot store proteins. To highlight these messages, Poultry India launched the Protein Awareness Campaign in September of 2015.
