India could tap the $10-12 billion poultry and eggs market overseas, if the government allows the industry to import feed for exports, an industry leader said at the BL Agri & Commodity Summit, held in Delhi last Friday, according to Indian trade body ADEPA. 

Speaking at the panel discussion on ‘Tapping the potential of livestock sector’, Suresh Chitturi, vice-chairman and managing director of Srinivasa Farms, said there is at least a $10-12 billion food market in the Middle East.  Current egg and chicken suppliers include Brazil and Ukraine. 

Chitturi said there's huge opportunity for India to serve the Middle Eastern market as well. 

"Typically our feed prices are high because of the minimum support price and all that," he said. "I think, if the government allows us to import feed for exports, I think that makes us on par with them and it is a huge thing." 

Chitturi said chicken from Brazil takes at least three months to reach shelves in Dubai. Whereas, India can reach Dubai in the same week. Stating that India is not as vegetarian a country as one thinks it to be, he said not a single kilo of chicken gets wasted anywhere. Consumption is not a problem as far both eggs and chicken, and it is doubling every seven years, which is very good. 

"Frankly, I don’t think you can ask for more than that," Chitturi said. 

On the production aspects, he said India is as good as anybody else in the world, but it is not good at managing supply.