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April 03, 2020 20:09 IST
COVID19 outbreak: Poultry sector faces Rs 22.5k crore loss
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Hyderabad, Apr 3 (PTI) The Indian poultry industry is
staring at a loss of Rs 22,500 crore since February following
the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus, and the industry has
knocked at the doors of the Centre with a plea for a "rescue
package."
What made matters worse were rumours that consumption of
eggs and chicken will lead to an infection of coronavirus, the
All India Poultry Breeders Association (AIPBA) said.
AIPBA has sought restructuring of loans and interest
subvention, among others, from the Narendra Modi-led
government to help the industry tide over the crisis.
The association''s Vice President, Suresh Chitturi said
the industry suffered heavily beginning February, owing to
false information linking coronavirus to consumption of
chicken and eggs and subsequently due to problems in movement
of poultry during the 21-day lockdown announced by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi last week.
"Rumours began doing the rounds in the first week of
February, which affected us very badly. Some people spread
false information that chicken and eggs should not be
consumed. The adverse impact continued for about six weeks,"
Chitturi told PTI here.
Though the poultry industry recovered a bit following a
clarification issued by them that eating chicken was safe,
issues relating to inter-state movement of eggs and chickens
at various parts of the country hurt the sector, he claimed.
According to the Association, the industry employs more
than 10 lakh poultry farmers and contributes Rs 1.3 lakh crore
to the country''s GDP directly.
The sector provides direct benefit to more than one crore
maize and soya agriculture farmers.
Poultry farming offers direct and indirect employment to
over five crore persons engaged in poultry production,
trading, feed manufacturing, agriculture crops, logistics,
exports and others.
The AIPBA submitted a memorandum to Modi on March 30
seeking "urgent financial assistance and rescue package" from
the Centre.
"The current 2.5 months loss of poultry industry (broiler
farmers and layer farmers, Integration companies and breeding
companies) beginning February 1 to April 15 April 2020 until
lockdown opens is Rs 22,500 CR," the association said.
Chitturi said the Association has requested restructuring
of loans allowing conversion of existing working capital loans
cash credit (CC) limits to term loans with a two year
moratorium.
He said it has also requested the government for interest
subvention and issuing fresh working capital.
All small farmers with less than 20,000 capacity farms
should be provided a compensation of Rs 100 per bird based on
their chicks'' purchase bill paid through banking transactions,
the AIPBA said in the memorandum.
It appealed to the Centre to provide wheat and rice of
''Feed Grade'' from old stock of government at a subsidized rate
of Rs 10 per kg.
It further sought exemption of GST on soya seed and soya
meal which has added to the input cost on livestock feed to
the farmers.
On the current market scenario, the memorandum said
poultry birds were being sold at a price of Rs 10 to Rs 30 per
kg at the Farm Gate level due to fake news regarding COVID19.
Noting that the production cost of poultry in India was
Rs 80 per kg, the Association stated that the prices of eggs
have plunged to two rupees per egg at Farm Gate.
The cost of production of egg on an average was Rs four
it said. PTI SJR ROH SA APR
RAVINDRANATH
APR
RAVINDRANATH
Disclaimer :- This story has not been edited by Outlook staff and is auto-generated from news agency feeds. Source: PTI
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