Population of poultry up 40% in 5yrs

Registering a sharp growth of 40.68 per cent in five years, the population of all kinds of poultry birds has risen from 347.61 million in 1997 to 489.01 million in 2003.

While the population of hens and cocks has risen by 45 per cent to touch the 457.39 million mark, that of ducks and drakes has declined by some 1.8 per cent from 7.99 million to 7.91 million during the same period.

The number of other poultry birds, like turkey, quail and guinea fowl has also risen marginally from 1.26 million to 1.65 million. This has been revealed in the 17th livestock census carried out throughout the country with a reference date of 15 October, 2003.

Though the animal husbandry department has already released tables of poultry numbers, the report on the detailed data with interpretations is under preparation, according to agriculture ministry sources.

A noteworthy trend indicated by these numbers is the growing preference of rural and urban households for the improved poultry breeds in comparison to desi fowls though the total population has risen in both the cases.

While desi birds outnumbered the improved ones in 1997, the position has been reversed in 2003. Significantly, the poultry population dynamics is far from uniform across the states.

While the central and southern states, barring Kerala, have shown substantial growth in population, ranging from 60 to 140 per cent, the eastern states, except West Bengal, have clocked perceptible declines in poultry population. Some major agricultural states like Punjab and Uttar Pradesh have also witnessed a fall in poultry numbers.

While in Punjab, the drop in poultry population is only marginal, some 2.2 per cent, in Uttar Pradesh, it is a whopping 33 per cent.

Andhra Pradesh now ranks first in poultry population, followed by Tamil Nadu and West Bengal in that order. Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh are the next in the ranking. Kerala, on the other hand, has registered over 33 per cent decline in poultry population.

In the eastern region, while states like West Bengal and Bihar (including Jharkhand) have clocked higher numbers, other states have registered a drop in population. Goa has also witnessed a sharp fall of 28.2 per cent in poultry bird count.

West Bengal witnessed one of the highest growth rates in the hen and cock population, nearly 158 per cent, though the overall poultry growth rate was only 82 per cent because of the fall in population of other poultry species.

Among the Union territories, Lakshadweep and Pondicherry are the only ones to register some increase in poultry numbers. Rest all have shown marginal declines.

The number of poultry birds held in Delhi's households, rural as well urban, has shrunk by 29 per cent.

Lakshadweep has registered an increase in the population of both chicks and ducks.