The poultry industry of India has been an animated topic of discourse during the pandemic which has had a cataclysmic effect on the sector, undergoing incredible losses during the entire lockdown phase. In a recently conducted virtual conclave, experts from diverse backgrounds which included Mr Amit Saraogi, Managing Director, Anmol Feeds and Mr Suresh Rayudu Chitturi, Vice-Chairman & Managing Director, Srinivasa Farms Private Limited and Chairman, International Egg Commission, Prof (Dr.) PK Shukla, Mr Sanjoy Mukherjee, Ms Pallavi Mathur Lal, Senior Client Officer, Ipsos in India, Mr Hareesh Tibrewala, Joint CEO, Mirum India, Dr Yadu Nandan, Managing Director, Jaika Hospitality Ventures, Ms Meghal Singh, Founder, Mommy’s Kitchen, Celebrity Chef, Vicky Ratnani and Mr Bahadur Ali, Founder & Managing Director, IB Group & Mr Gulrez Alam, Director, IB Group gathered to share insights and discuss on the plight of poultry farmers and the industry’s path to recovery. Poultry prices were ruling firm and the demand looked good at the beginning of the year. However, after the second week of February, there was misinformation floating that linked chicken and egg consumption to coronavirus. Farmers were left with no option but to resort to the culling of birds or destroy their produce due to the huge drop in demand. This scenario also impacted the allied sectors like feed manufacturers with austere losses in revenues.
Mr Amit Saraogi, Managing Director, Anmol Feeds, stated, “The poultry industry had run into losses of over Rs 26,000 crores in just three months, owing to misinformation about COVID 19 spreading from the consumption of chicken. In addition, the prices of raw materials had gone up by nearly 10-15 per cent. More than 70 million small farmers were in deep debt trap owing to a severe liquidity crunch. We have sent multiple letters to the ministry at the Centre and State level through the West Bengal Poultry Federation and through CII.” Noteworthy, the livestock sector currently contributes 25.6% to the Agricultural GDP and 4.11% to the National GDP which is far below the potential it holds. Poultry contributes Rs 1.3 lakh crore to the GDP. The last three months have witnessed a rise in the price of chicken which helped the industry improve. The poultry industry got further relief with the Rs 15,000 crore for Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund announced by the Centre.
