Project title: Indian Poultry Sector in Transition: Role of Technology and Institutions

Project leader: B. Ganesh Kumar

Project team: K. K. Datta and Partners from TANUVAS, GADVASU, MASFU, ICAR-NEH

                         Region

Background:

In India, poultry is one of the fastest growing segments of livestock and is characterized by a very wide range of operations with livelihood and subsistence farming at one end, to highly viable and commercial operations, at the other. The regional pattern of demand for poultry products, poultry health and bio-security, implications of emerging diseases and their control measures are some of the important issues and/or most formidable challenges for both rural and commercial set up that need to be addressed for the development of poultry.      

Objectives:

1.    To analyze the production and consumption of poultry and poultry products in India and across regions

2.    To compare the performance of backyard farming, contract and non-contract commercial farming in terms of cost, profit and efficiency across regions of the country

3.    To identify the marketing channels, cost, margin and efficiency of poultry products marketing

4.    To observe the poultry health and bio-security measures in the country and suggest suitable strategies to control the outbreak of emerging diseases in poultry

Study area: 

Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Meghalaya 

Methodology:

1.    Growth rate analysis

2.    Functional analysis – linear/non-linear, Frontier Production Function

3.    Ratio analysis (FCR, MFR, EFR, BCR)

4.    Calculation of marketing efficiency

Key findings:

1.  Broiler farming was found more profitable than layer farming.

2.  Contract farming is prevalent in broiler farming, as a result of which their cost and risk are reduced.

3.  Layer farmers are selling the sizeable portion (35%) of eggs after hatching them as chicks.

4. The vulnerability of backyard poultry farmers to Avian Influenza is higher in north-   eastern states.

Funding agency: NCAP