PANAJI
National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC) has appealed to the Government of India to allot at least 2 million tons of damaged wheat, paddy and/or broken rice - unfit for human consumption - for use in poultry feed, as a partial substitute for maize to enable the farmers to tide over the unprecedented crisis caused due to acute shortage and steep increase in the price of maize and soya meal in the domestic market. It's one of the worst crises in the history of the poultry industry. NECC sources said that during the past few years, and particularly during the past year, there was a significant increase in the price of maize due to various reasons beyond the control of farmers. NECC has stated that due to the increase in maize price, the average cost of production has gone up from Rs 4 per egg last year, to Rs 4.75 - Rs 5 presently. However, the average farm-gate price is hovering around Rs 3.50 per egg, thus resulting in a net loss of Rs 1.50 to 1.75 per egg for the farmers. Unable to withstand such continuous losses, thousands of small and marginal farmers and even breeders have already shut down, suspended or scaled down their operations. Most of the farmers and breeders are on the verge of insolvency.
