According to The New Indian Express, the raise in the upper limit in the investment subsidy is expected to draw more entrepreneurs to poultry farming which is now part of agriculture and designated as commercial agri-enterprise.

Earlier, the State Government, under its Agriculture Policy 2013, was offering 40 per cent of the fixed capital - cost of land excluded - as subsidy subject to an upper limit of Rs 50 lakh. For the women, SC and ST and students of BSc in Agriculture and allied discipline, it was 50 per cent with a similar cap.

Having modified the Agriculture Policy, the Government has announced that the revised subsidy limit will be applicable for new farms as well as for expansion of the existing ones. This incentive will remain in force for a period of two years - 2014-16. Only the projects sanctioned during these financial years will be eligible for the enhanced subsidy.

Currently, the daily domestic egg production in the State stands at 45 lakh against the demand for 64 lakh.

The State needs 15 lakh eggs for the supplementary nutrition programme on a daily basis. The 60-odd commercial layer farms contribute 34 lakh eggs while supply from Andhra meets the 20 lakh gap.

Though the egg production has recorded 10 per cent growth in the last few years, the gap remains in tact.

The Agriculture Department, in a latest notification, has stated that entrepreneurs availing the capital investment subsidy exceeding Rs 50 lakh, however, will not be eligible for the interest subsidy as an incentive.