Poultry Industry in India

Poultry is one of the fastest growing segments of the agricultural sector in India today. While the production of agricultural crops has been rising at a rate of 1.5 to 2 percent per annum, that of eggs and broilers has been rising at a rate of 8 to 10 percent per annum. As a result, India is now the world's fifth largest egg producer and the eighteenth largest producer of broilers.

1.2 Regional Variation in Poultry Development

Another important aspect of poultry development in India is the significant variation in the industry across regions. Figure 1.1 illustrates egg production in India by state during 1998-99. The four southern states - Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu - account for about 45 percent of the country's egg production, with a per capita consumption of 57 eggs and 0.5 kg. of broiler meat. The eastern and central regions of India account for about 20 percent of egg production, with a per capita consumption of 18 eggs and 0.13 kg. of broiler meat. The northern and western regions of the country record much higher figures than the eastern and central regions with respect to per capita availability of eggs and broiler meat

1.3 Growing Production of Eggs and Broilers

Table eggs and broiler meat are the major end products of the poultry sector in India. Presently production of eggs is estimated to number about 37 billion, that of broilers 895 million, and that of poultry meat 735,000 tonnes.

1.7 Low Per Capita Consumption

Even though India is the world's fifth largest egg producer and the eighteenth largest producer of broilers, its per capita consumption of these products is poor - 37 eggs and 1 kg. of poultry meat per capita per annum. Per capita consumption of eggs is only 7.7 per annum in rural areas compared with 17.8 per annum in urban areas. In seven states, per capita consumption is less than 3.5 per annum. Similarly, per capita consumption of poultry meat is 0.24 kg. in rural areas and 1.08 kg. in urban areas.

1.9 Exports
Exports of poultry products from India comprise table eggs, meat, live birds and value-added products such as egg powder and frozen yolk. The value of aggregated exports was Rs. 1,683 million in 1996-97. Exports were expected to reach the level of Rs. 6 billion by the year 2012.

.10 Employment
Three decades ago, when egg and broiler production was 10 billion and 30 million, respectively, the total employment numbers in the poultry sector were not so encouraging. As income and employment in the crop sector started diminishing, the non-crop sector, which includes dairy and poultry, underwent a significant shift. With the demand for poultry increasing and production reaching 37 billion eggs and 1 billion broilers, this sector now employs around 1.6 million people. At least 80 percent of employment in the poultry sector is generated directly by these farmers, while 20 percent is engaged in feed, pharmaceuticals, equipment and other services required by the poultry sector. Additionally, there may be a similar number of people roughly 1.6 million who are engaged in marketing and other channels servicing the poultry sector.

1.13 Policy Measures

The policy measures that are required to improve the poultry industry must involve: (a) improving infrastructure facilities, (b) creating an efficient marketing (c) increasing maize production
Records: 1 - 100 of 110 in Poultry Farms

The Indian poultry industry has contributed around US $ 229million, to the gross national product and is witnessing steady growth till the current fiscal year. Further, the report also envisages a strong growth for the egg and poultry meat industry of India, both in urban and rural India, in the next two decades. The current scenario of poultry business in India is encouraging because India ranks seventeenth in the world poultry production index. Further, India is the fifth largest producer of eggs and ninth largest producer of poultry meat amongst all the countries. With the continual rise in purchasing power capacity, the rate of consumption is estimated to triple by the end of the year 2020.

Although, the Indian poultry industry is on a rise due to modern practice method of poultry farming but a major section of the industry still suffers from some bottlenecks, like the following Lack of proper basic infrastructure like storage facility, transport, cold storage chains Fluctuations in the price of poultry products due to absence of proper storage facilities Unorganized and inefficient marketing system Interference of many market intermediaries Availability of proper nutritious feed in absence of corn or maize, which constitutes the bulk of broiler feed Lack of proper disease knowledge of the fowls

Commercial Poultry
India has emerged as the only country in the developing world a self-reliant, technology driven industry, with capability to produce every essential input for successful poultry farming.

Rural Poultry Production

A spectacular progress has been made from subsistence to sustainable production system. Indian backyard population increase is only by 16% in the last 30 years from 60 to 70 million.

Egg Scenario
India produces 3.6% of global egg production, i.e., 61 million tonnes. The annual growth rate of egg is 5 to 8%. India has the lowest cost of egg production in the world at 2.55 US cents per egg.

Recent positive developments of poultry industry

NABARD has committed to bring about rural prosperity through poultry. Meeting of sub-group of poultry has asked for funds of Rs1095 crore for poultry development during the 11th Plan and Rs 30,000 crore for the entire livestock sector under various schemes of the Government of India. India has resumed egg export. IFC (Washington based International Finance Corporation) picked up stake in Suguna Poultry farms. Suguna Poultry paves the way for North Indian expansion and introduces dial-a-chicken concept to promote value added products. Thousands of broiler farmers will reap the benefit. Venkateswara Hatcheries has decided to use tennis to promote their brand Venky's. Poultry farmers to get maize on concessional rate to use it as feed in poultry. Kerala livestock development board chalked out plan for poultry tourism in Munnar. Poultry litter to fetch carbon credit in Andhra Pradesh with 3.5 mw power plant. Godrej Agrovet Ltd introduced wide range of processed chicken in the brand name of Godrej Real Good Chicken.