Potential
to become world leader
"Strength of a
nation" is going to be the key word in a global village. An Indian poultry
industry has the inherent potential to become the world- leader. Recently, I had read an
article on world poultry business, in " World-Poultry " an international
magazine of poultry business. A survey was conducted to study the prices of eggs and
prices of poultry feed in 45 countries. The prices were converted into U.S. dollars.
Conversion ratio that is an index of conversion of feed into eggs was given due weightage.
In was certainly an in-depth study of poultry business in the world. The report points out
that eggs are cheapest in India, even though feed costs are not cheapest.
Increasing demand :-
Inspite of propaganda raised by organizations promoting vegeterianism and inspite of
threat of salmonella and cholesterol, world poultry industry is expanding, as the
population is increasing. Per capita consumption is also increasing. Not only that, many
countries which are not traditionally poultry - growers are giving incentives to their
poultry industry. Indian Government is also giving incentives to this industry by giving
incentives to small poultry farmers as well as poultry industry in organized sector as
poultry industry generates employment and also provides proteins to masses. Many countries
have to import feed for their poultry industry. India is lucky. We export 24 million
tonnes of soyabean cake to Europe, which is the main ingredient of poultry feed. We can
export eggs or chicken meat instead of soyabean-cake.
Organic chicken: -
Traditionally many poor people are raising poultry in their back yards. These rustic
chickens and eggs fetch higher price in local market. There is a good market for such
organic products in developed countries. They call it " free range birds ".
Health conscious consumers prefer organic chickens to commercial chickens raised
unnaturally. Consumers are worried about anti-biotics used during raising.
They are also raising
voice against size of cages used for raising birds. Poultry industry in developed
countries is going from one crisis to another. First there was fear of Salmella and
cholesterol. Then there were out-breaks of diseases. Millions of chickens has to be burnt
due to scare of diseases. Hongkong and Taiwan poultry industry has recently faced this
problem. Belgium poultry industry faced a different type of crisis. Their feed was
contaminated. Consumers all over the world are demanding quality products at cheaper
prices. Particularly in developed countries. As such, poultry industry is facing problems
of falling profit margins.
Many countries are
exporting eggs at prices lower than production costs. Poultry industry with high
investments in these countries is under threat of extinction. Many countries have saved
their poultry industry with a ban on imports. In a global poultry bazaar, Indian eggs are
cheapest. 50 cents a kg. At the other end, eggs are costliest in Argentina with price of
145 cents per kg. The prices of eggs in different countries are as follows. U.S.A.
80 cents, France - 102 cents, Holland 86 cents, Japan 127 cents, New
Zealand 136 cents, Taiwan - 108 cents, Great Britain 102 cents. In near by
Sri Lanka 58 cents, Bangladesh 117 cents and Pakistan 87 cents. In
other words, any-body who comes to India, will find eggs as cheapest in the world.
Major costs as
production of eggs are for the feed. The feed cost for producing one kilo of eggs is
lowest in Zimbabwe, it is 18 cents. Feed costs are highest i. e. 45 cents in Philippines.
In India the figure is 44 cents. In U.S.A. it s 15-50 cents. The costs in other countries
are as follows Pakistan 25 cents, Sri Lanka 24 cents, France 25 cents and Great Britain 27
cents.
We can reduce the cost
of feed. India is gifted with natural sunshine, cultivable land and sufficient rains. And
there is millions of unemployed. Even by providing water to thirsty lands, we can make
poultry feed that can be sufficient for the world poultry. Even by controlling post
harvest losses of food grains we will be able to feed world poultry and world dairy.
France, Holland and
Britain have kept feed prices unnaturally at high levels and taken protective measures by
restricting imports. And they have kept egg- prices at lower levels.
They are protecting
their poultry industry from foreign competition by these protective measures. Chinese
poultry industry is the largest in the world. Egg prices are 94 cent a kilo and feed cost
is 27 cents in China.
Day old chicks: - If
you want to purchase day old chicks, come to Sri Lanka. At 29 cents a chick, Sri Lanka is
cheapest. And New Zealand is most expensive at 172 cents. The rates in other countries are
as follows: - India 39 cents, Canada 76 cents, U.S.A. 47 cents, Britain 70 cents, Japan
132 cents.
16 weeks chicks: -
Some growers purchase 16-week-old chicks and raise them. Prices for such chicks in
different countries are as follows:- China 168 cents, Japan 667 cents (highest) , India
228 cents, Sri Lanka 235 cents, Pakistan 274 cents, Britain 359 cents. We can supply
16-week chicks to Europe, if free economy is really free.
Indian overview:-
Indian poultry industry is on cross- road-Considerable progress is already made but we
have to go miles Most of the global brands are available in India, still there are some
opportunities for technology transfer particularly organic brand. And processing is as
good as non-existent. There is a great potential for exports which is yet to be tapped.
Future of popularity
industry depends on Government and Indian entrepreneurship! |