According to The Hindu Business Line, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has projected that the growth trend would continue in 2012, when the production of broilers will reach 3.2 mt in India.

Consumption of poultry and egg will continue to grow as well and is expected to double by 2015, the report said.

Growth in broiler production was achieved despite reports of four incidents of outbreak of avian influenza, popularly known as bird flu in the north-eastern states, the report said.

Besides, West Bengal, Assam and Tripura reported the flu this year. The government had notified the flu to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), it said.

Poultry meat exports, however, did not see any change despite the growth in production as India consumes nearly all the poultry meat it produces.

The report estimates India’s per capita consumption of poultry meat at around 3 kg per annum with chicken as the preferred non-vegetarian option. India’s per capita consumption of eggs is estimated at about 51 per annum.

The report identifies major drivers of consumption to an expanding middle class, increasing employment, rising incomes, new demand for ready-to-eat products and the growing presence of affordable quick-service restaurants.

Besides, there is a general preference for poultry meat over other options due to low prices as well as cultural and religious non-preference for pork and beef.

"While poultry and egg consumption are expected to grow in India, local dietary practices tend to prefer vegetarian protein sources even among non-vegetarian consumers. As a result it is unlikely that per capita consumption of meat and eggs will grow to levels seen in other countries," the USDA report said.