CHALLENGES FACED BY POULTRY FARMING

CHALLENGES FACED BY POULTRY FARMING

Marita Dias¹, Bibin Mohan¹

• V.Sc Scholars, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,Pookode, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Wayanad- 673576

INTRODUCTION

The natural practice of growing turkeys, chickens, ducks, or geese is known as poultry farming. The birds are raised for meat, eggs, and feathers for domestic or commercial purposes. Chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, ostriches and emus are main types of poultry farms

Today In India, poultry is one of the agricultural sectors with the greatest growth rates. While agricultural crop output has been increasing at a pace of 1.5 to 2 percent annually, the production of eggs and broilers has been increasing at a rate of 8 to 10 percent annually. In a short period, in the livestock sector poultry is the most efficient enterprise for increasing the supply of Desi red proteins, fats, minerals and vitamins. India is currently the fifth-largest producer of eggs and the eighteenth-largest producer of broilers in the world. The fastest-growing part of the world’s meat market is chicken meat, and India, the second-largest developing nation in the world, is seeing significant expansion in this area.

Over the past 20 years, poultry meat has become more and more popular. It is currently the most popular meat from any one livestock species, making up roughly 45% of total meat consumption. Chicken dominates the poultry production in India with nearly 95% of the total egg production. The state of Tamil Nadu produces the most eggs overall. Andhra Pradesh (Hyderabad) contain most aviaries and hatcheries. Vizakhapatnam, Chittoor, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, and North Eastern States are the primary egg contributors in addition to the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Prior to the middle of the 20th century, chicken meat was largely a byproduct of the egg industry. However, both eggs and chicken meat are significant and abundant sources of protein, vitamins, and minerals that are essential to a healthy diet. Although it used to be common for a single-family farm to sell eggs and grow chickens for sale, this activity was frequently one of several ways the farm generated both food and income.

Modern commercial farming practices tend to be more concentrated and employ advanced equipment to monitor the condition and rate of production. One of the agricultural industry’s fastest-growing subsectors in India is poultry. Millions of farmers and other people involved in the poultry industry and rely heavily on the money and jobs that chicken provides in addition to the rich organic manure that it produces. In India, chicken is the most commonly consumed meat. It is not considered to be prohibited by religion like beef or hog. Compared to mutton or goat meat, chicken is more affordable. Many Indian families have started accepting eggs, especially the educated folks in urban regions as a consistent complement to a vegetarian diet.

CHALLENGES

• High feed cost: Feed price and ongoing efforts to learn more about the available substitute feed ingredients Feed prices are certainly one of the industry’s biggest problems right now. According to ICRA, the issues facing the poultry sector include high feed costs, poor cold chain and transportation infrastructure, a high susceptibility to disease outbreaks, and extremely variable realizations that have an impact on cash flows.
• Limited Access to the Core Markets: It is all because of the limited access to the worldwide markets which is barrier in the way of these farmers. As they get little return on what they sale, so they never try to improve the quality of the poultry products and farms. Various significant improvements can be made in these production systems through the use and implementation of the most advanced and scientific practices
• Nutrition-related environmental issues: Nutrition-related environmental issues (excretion of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus in the manure).
• Water issues : Severe Issue related to water in terms of both quality and quantity.
• Inadequate investments: Developing efficient distribution system with large investments required in cold chain infrastructure and increasing market acceptability of frozen chicken are going to be the key industry drivers in long term,
• Increased hatchability: Farmers in the country have moved from rearing country birds in the past to rearing hybrids which ensure faster growth of chicks, higher eggs per bird, increased hatchability, low mortality rates, excellent feed conversion and consequently sustainable profits

Some other factors are:

• Expanding middle class
• Per capita consumption and income
• Urbanization
• Young and growing population
• Creating awareness regarding processed meat and protein intake.
• Food security to be moved to nutritional security.

SOLUTIONS

• Due to the adoption of contemporary technologies and the market shift from live birds to fresh, chilled, and frozen chicken products, the poultry business in India is constantly expanding.
• The integrated poultry operations across the nation opened a new aisle.
• Policies that guarantee supplies of corn and soybeans at competitive prices. An increase in per capita consumption of 1 egg or 50 gm of poultry meat will likely result in an additional 25,000 jobs, opening up opportunities for young people to find work.
• The production of designer eggs is currently the newest trend in the poultry industry. These eggs are organic, low in cholesterol and saturated fat, and high in omega 3 fatty acids.

CONCLUSION

Currently, certain investments are being made in those nations to address the poultry issues, and appropriate measures are being implemented to ensure the adoption of scientific research, such as technical training and assistance for farmers, the implementation of new policies, etc. Eggs and chicken meat are in higher demand. The populace is capable of purchasing goods. It is necessary to raise the “quality” of the items. The foreign investors should seek collaborations with Indian entrepreneurs. The foreign research and development institutes need to collaborate with Indian counterparts like ICAR, CARI; Agricultural Universities etc. The international donors need to collaborate with Government of India, NABARD, APEDA etc.India has a skilled labour force, a robust private poultry industry, and financial credit institutions. Investment opportunities exist in all facets of poultry, including breeding and nutrition. Housing and management, health control, product processing, and marketing for both the domestic and international markets.

Key words:  Challenges, Egg, Meat, India, Income, Environment

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