SATISH HANDA

Poultry farming business in Haryana witnessed boom during years 1990 till 2002 finding lot of potential when large number of poultry farms were developed in Haryana, especially in Northern part of state with nearly 15% growth every year. After the year 1994 Barwala in Ambala district and Raipur Rani in Panchkula district at a distance of about 20-25 km. from Ambala became one of the highest eggs producing belt in North having nearly 300 poultry farms in the area.  Having such a large establishment of poultry farming there was a need for overall guidance in flock management, nutrition and disease prevention control which unfortunately was lacking and making the business less profitable. The entrepreneurs made repeatedly appeals to government then ruling in the state to give industry status to poultry farming but to no result and this growing industry remained neglected.

According to a retired senior officer of Department of Animal Husbandry Haryana, there were over 45 lakh layers in the area with a total strength of nearly 300 poultry farms at Barwala and Raipur Rani with a population of over 23 lakh birds and Barwala-Raipur Rani was ranking third in the country as per the density of layer population in poultry farming.  If we look at past many years, undivided Punjab was a leading egg production region. Various factors contributed first to a slow-down in growth, then to a decline in output during militancy when Chandigarh emerged as an important egg production centre. Later Barwala   found favour because land price was much lesser and area was closer to Panchkula and Chandigarh. Moreover, poultry farming was a free enterprise in which no license was required, most of those who migrated had from Punjab been owners of poultry farms, brick kilns, rice mills, cloth merchants and contractors in Punjab. Once they set up modern poultry farms in Barwala-Raipur Rani area in 1994 and the price of land in area increased immediately by hundred per cent.

According to Capt. Prem Nanda a former Zonal Chairman of National Egg Coordination Committee, poultry farming in the area witnessed heavy growth since most of the owners of poultry farms were young, educated, entrepreneurs with money to invest- this was the reason flourished. He said soya meal prices have been constantly rising, fish meal available was of poor quality so it was not used as such cost of production fast increased by 25% but the sale price was not increased reducing margin. Capt Nanda said, the major problem faced by poultry farmers in the area is one of marketing the product and frequent loss due to disease afflicting birds as a result of bird flue spread at times when poultry farmers suffered heavy losses. He said, even banks hesitate to give loans to poultry farmers.

Capt. Nanda said, poultry farmers in Haryana are dependant on other states for sale of eggs as consumption of eggs is very small in the state as most communities residing in Haryana are pure vegetarian. He regretted, no support from the state government for this business and no check on the rate and quality of feed available in the market. He suggested that a Poultry Board should be formed in the country to help boost sales and introduce a strong infrastructure for exporting eggs to neighbouring countries to keep poultry farming business alive. According to information, the consumption of eggs in India is hardly 30-32 eggs per capita per year as compared to 225 eggs in China. Israel has the largest consumption of eggs with about 400 eggs per capita per year.

According to Shivam Mittal, President Poultry Farms Association, the rumours that chicken spreads corona virus disease has adversely affected poultry business likely to collapse very soon under present circumstances. He said, in past one month chicken (broilers) rates have been slashed down by 70% and rates of eggs also dropped from Rs 60 to Rs 35 per dozen due demand recession and in case the situation does not improve in coming couple of months over 50% poultry farms would be closed down. He demanded stern action against those spreading false rumours to save industry. Mittal said that poultry farmers are going to organize a chicken-eggs fair at Karnal in which chicken and eggs would be served to visitors free of cost

A retired Poultry Development Officer S.K. Khanna said that rumours that chicken promotes corona virus have spoiled entire poultry farm industry in the state as well as in the country and in case situation does not improve immediately large number of poultry farmers would be compelled to close down their shutters unable to bear cost of feed, labour and miscellaneous expenses. He demanded government to take stern action against those spreading false rumours.