Rising prices of maize worry poultry industry
Pune: The poultry industry has raised concerns over rising maize prices and urged Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh to allow duty-free imports of genetically modified (GM) maize. Maize prices have surged from Rs 23-24 per kg to Rs 28-29 per kg due to increased demand from the ethanol industry. The industry advocates for increasing the import cap for GM maize from 5 million to 15-20 million tonnes to reduce costs and remain competitive. Currently, import duties inflate maize prices, impacting poultry production costs and chicken prices.
Pune: Members of the poultry industry have raised concerns over the rising maze prices in the country and have written to the Union minister of fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh, urging him to allow import of genetically modified (GM) maize with zero import duty. Around 60% of the maize from across the country is consumed by the poultry industry and prices started to increase after the ethanol industry started using more maize and rice for production. “Prices of maize have increased from Rs23-24 per kg to Rs28-29 per kg after the ethanol industry started using it. This has affected the overall production cost of the poultry industry which is ultimately affecting the price of chicken,” Girish Kolwankar, director of Premium Chick Feeds told TOI.The price of maize has increased by around 73% in the last four years with an average annual increase of around 18%, while the average growth of the industry has been between 8 and 10%. “We have demanded that central govt should increase the current import cap for GM maize from 5 million tonnes to at least 15 to 20 million tonnes. It should also be made duty free to make it affordable for the poultry industry because we cannot compete with the ethanol industry,” Ranpal Dhanda, president of Poultry Federation of India, said.He added that even after allowing zero duty import, the industry will still pay around Rs 24 to 25 per kg for GM maize which will be higher than the MSP for the maize (Rs 22.25 per kg) in India. “However, we are currently forced to pay around Rs 26.5 per kg with 15% import duty under the current norms. Countries like Ukraine and Brazil are most preferred for importing GM maize by the industry,” Dhanda said.Sujit Kulkarni, vice president of Poultry Federation of India’s west zone, said, “The industry consumes around 4 million tonnes of rice every year for poultry feed. The govt currently has a surplus of around 48 million tonnes of rice which can be diverted to the poultry industry.”We also published the following articles recently
This Koppal farmer has achieved record maize yieldDiscover how farmer Hanumanth Meti achieved impressive maize yields through a blend of modern and traditional farming techniques on his two-acre farmland in Gunnala village. Learn about the potential for innovation in agriculture.
The election message for industryLearnings from the Lok Sabha elections shed light on the importance of transparent political funding, inclusive growth strategies, reliable economic data, fair media representation, and vocal industry leadership. Explore key takeaways from the recent election results.
Coloured gemstone industry shines: ExpertDiscover the booming coloured gemstone industry in India with a focus on sustainability and ethical practices. Experts foresee a 7.5% annual growth rate over the next five years, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern design to meet global demand.
Source Link : https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/rising-maize-prices-concern-poultry-industry/articleshow/111873065.cms
Recommended for you
