THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SHARAD PAWAR)
(a)to(f): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.186 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12TH MARCH, 2007.
(a): (i) Following is the position of egg production in the country during each of the last three years and in the current financial year:
Year Production(in billion numbers)
2003-04 40.4 2004-05 45.2 2005-06 46.2 2006-07 (estimated) 47.3
Source: Animal Husbandry Statistics
(ii) Following is the position of chicken meat production from 2002 to 2005 in the country for which data is available.
Year Production(in million metric tonnes)
2002 1.40 2003 1.60 2004 1.65 2005 1.90
Source: FAO Data
(b): No, Sir.
(c): Question does not arise.
(d): As per statistics published by the National Egg Coordination Committee, the average prices of eggs at prominent consumption centres in the country in January 2007 were higher by 22% to 26% as compared to the average prices prevailing at the said centres in January 2006.
The statistics available in trade publications reveal that the average broiler lifting rates at prominent centres in the country in January 2007 were 5% to 10% higher as compared to the average rates prevailing at the same centres in January 2006.
(e): The main factors responsible for increase in the prices of chicken and eggs in the country this year, as compared to the last year, are:
(i) Increase in the price of maize, which constitutes, on an average, 50% of the poultry feed.
(ii) Reduction in installed capacity after occurrence of bird flu in February/March 2006.
(f): The Government has taken a number of measures, both short-term and long-term, to improve the production of chicken and eggs in the country. The short term measures include:
(i) Implementation of a financial relief package for the poultry industry in April 2006.
(ii) Distribution of 35.6 lakh quintals of subsidized maize to various States at a price of Rs.450 per quintal from the Government’s stock for further distribution to poultry farmer for use in poultry feed.
(iii) Permission to import maize under OGL at zero duty up to 31.12.2007.
The following schemes implemented by the Government seek to promote the development of poultry and, in turn, the production of chicken and eggs in the country on a long-term basis:
(i) Centrally sponsored scheme ‘Assistance to State Poultry/Duck Farms’ Central Sector scheme ‘Dairy/Poultry Venture Capital Fund’.
