Poultry farmers seek help
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 15 2013:
Poultry farmers and traders in Manipur are on the verge of giving up the occupation, thanks to large scale import of chickens from neighbouring States in lower rates.
As poultry farmers in Manipur are unable to invest big amount in their occupation, they are not in a condition to compete with the large scale poultry farms of neighbouring States.
One kg of dressed chicked is sold at Rs 190 in Manipur which is not profitable at all to the poultry farmers of the State, said K Achouba, secretary of All Manipur Poultry Farmers and Traders Association.
Various chicken centres are selling chicken at lower rate as they get live chickens at lower rate from large farms of other States.
In order to level the rate with these larger farms, small scale farms of the State have to sell their produce in lower rate although the cost of farming is too high in the State, he added.
In Manipur, Rs 115 is spent per kg by a poultry farmer, he said.
In such a scenario, many small scale poultry farmers of the State have left the occupation as they earn nothing from the occupation.
He added that there is huge difference in the cost of labour and feeding material etc between Manipur and bigger States like Assam.
Drawing attention of the civil society organisatios and government authority concerned in this regard, the secretary urged to help the poultry farmers of the State in sustaining their occupation.
If necessary measures are not taken up soon, the chicken market of the State would be fully handled by large farms of other States in near future, he added.