Agitation hits livestock delivery to other places
The ongoing Telangana agitation is taking a toll on the poultry industry in the state, particularly in Hyderabad.
At least 50,000 chicks have died after transport vehicles carrying them from the city were held up by protestors while about one million eggs could not be delivered to Kolkata and Orissa, thereby flooding the domestic market.
“The local markets could absorb them now. But if the stock is returned too often, it would result in accumulation. Even a five per cent accumulation will hit the margin dearly,” said G Ranjit Reddy, a member of the Andhra Pradesh Poultry Breeders Association and owner of SR Hatcheries.
The chicks were to be delivered to other districts in the state, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra on December 24 when the Telangana Rashtra Samithi called for a bandh.
Similarly, about six million eggs could not be sent to Uttar Pradesh from Vijayawada and were diverted to the local markets. “The consumption does not increase overnight. The price will come down if the stock piles up,” said K Satyanarayana, chief executive of the National Egg Coordination Committee in Vijayawada.
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There have also been incidents of rioters lifting live birds. “Recently, about 3,000 live birds were lifted from a farm. This will send wrong signals and people will resort to this for personal gain too,” he said.
A live bird weighing 2 kg costs over Rs 100 while one-day old chicks are priced at around Rs 17 each and a million eggs cost Rs 13 lakh. Hyderabad alone produces 10 million eggs every day.
The association is now preparing to make a representation to the state police seeking an exemption to the vehicles containing livestock. “Sticking to delivery of livestock deadlines is critical,” he said.
According to G Ramesh Babu, general secretary of AP Poultry Breeders Association, farmers were expecting a farm gate price of Rs 60 per kg live this season. But, they are realising about Rs 54 per kg. The price touched a peak of Rs 68 in May while it was Rs 37 in September, Rs 45 in October and Rs 40 in November. The demand did not peak then on account of drought, floods and swine flu that occurred in quick succession.
Though the feed supplies have been affected, the inventories have absorbed the shock, said Satyanarayana.