Poultry Farmers Unable to Hike Egg Prices

INDIA - Poultry farmers in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are incurring losses due to increased prices of poultry feed. To top it, they cannot increase the prices of eggs as neighbouring states would readily supply the product at a reduced cost, general manager of the National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC) Vispi R Batliwala said.
calendar icon 30 July 2014
clock icon 3 minute read

According to The New Indian Express, last week, the NECC had appealed to the government to grant a moratorium on payment of interest and loans for a period of one year to provide relief from the crisis.

Mr Batliwala said around 70 per cent of poultry farmers’ investment is allotted for purchasing feed and if subsidies are provided on maize and soya, the losses can be recovered. India produces 23.6 million metric tonnes (MMT) and 13.6 MMT is used by the poultry industry.

"As much as 3.6 MMT of maize is produced in AP and Telangana and the consumption by poultry in the two states stands at 3.5 MMT," business manager of NECC Sanjeev Chintawar said and added that the poultry consumption of soya in the two states is 1.5 MMT which is on par with the production.

Speaking about the crux of the problem, Mr Chintawar said though the states are self sufficient, the problem arises as traders are hoarding the produce to increase prices. "Prices will go higher if they opt to import maize from Karnataka or Maharashtra," he added.

Mr Chintawar felt that the farmers incurred a production cost of Rs 3.5 per egg and the selling prices have been lower than that. "In March, the farmers got Rs 3.04 per egg. Rs 2,44 in April and Rs 2.91 in May. In July, they got Rs 3.14 but now the rate has fallen to Rs 2.64," the NECC official said.

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