(a) whether the Government has made any assessment on consumption of chicken in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the production and per capita consumption of chicken in the country; and
(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to assist poultry farmers ?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE, CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. The National Sample Survey Organization made an assessment on
consumption of chicken and the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries,
estimated the production of poultry meat in the country as 1849 thousand tons during 2008-09.
As per National Sample Survey 61st round report no. 509 ( July2004-June2005)T the monthly per
capita consumption of chicken in rural and urban sector was 0.050 Kg and 0.085 Kg respectively.
(c): Government of India is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme `Poultry Development`
which comprises of three components viz.(i) Assistance to State Poultry Farms; (ii) Rural
Backyard Poultry Development; and (iii) Poultry Estate and Central Sector Schemes of `Central
Poultry Development Organisation` and `Poultry Venture Capital Fund`. These schemes mainly aim
at providing quality chicks, training and feed testing facilities to the poultry farmers besides
strengthening of State Government Poultry Farms. Poultry Venture Capital Fund` scheme encourages
entrepreneurship in farmers by providing interest free loan for various poultry activities.