Odisha sets to be self-sufficient in poultry, egg production

Bhubaneswar: Odisha is set to be self-sufficient in poultry and egg production, said Finance Minister Shashibhusan Behera on Tuesday.

He felicitated the poultry entrepreneurs for their excellent contribution and innovation in poultry sector in an event organised by Smart Agri Post.

The conference is an attempt by private stakeholders in association with government organisations.

Celebrating World Egg Day, SMART AGRIPOST organized Poultry (Look East) 2018 in association with Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries (DADF) under Union Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Odisha Fisheries &Animal Resources Development Department.

Throughout the day, several intellectuals brainstormed on issues and challenges facing the poultry industry, emerging poultry feed and health management, the scope of export and processing of poultry products.

The first session on issues and challenges of poultry industry was chaired by Professor A G Rao while the second one titled ‘Scope of Export & Processing Poultry Products’ was chaired by Sagar Mehra, JS, DADF, Government of India and the final session was a group interaction on issues and challenges faced by entrepreneurs.

Pravash Pradhan, Editor, Smart Agri Post said, “The objective behind organising such type of workshop was to identify the issues and challenges and develop strategies for sustainable poultry production, to address the gap for input channelization and cost-effective small-scale poultry production.”

“We are feeling proud to have such programmes in Odisha seeing the enthusiasm and overwhelming response of various poultry entrepreneurs and budding entrepreneurs of this state who have made this programme a successful one with their presence,” he said.

It may be noted here that, poultry is one of the fastest growing segments of the agricultural sector in India. The production of agricultural crops has been rising at a rate of 1.5 to 2 per cent per annum, while eggs and broilers have been rising at a rate of 8 to 10 per cent per annum.

India is now the world’s 3rd largest egg producer and the 4th largest producer of broilers. India is one of the few countries in the world that has put into place a sustained Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) egg production project.

The egg production in the country has increased from around 83 billion nos. in 2015-16 to around 88 billion in 2016-17 registering a growth of about 6%. Though the egg processing industry has increased exports from around 250 crores to about Rs. 500 crores in FY 2015-16, the export turnover has reduced to Rs. 325 crores in FY 2017-18.