The Andhra Pradesh Poultry Federation (APPF) has appealed to the central government to consider waiver of 15 per cent import duty on maize to help the poultry sector which is passing through a critical phase due to steep rise in feed prices.
In a representation to the visiting central team to study drought in the state, M P Seshaiah, the president of APPF, said that while the poultry sector in state needed about 1.35 million tonnes of maize per annum, the availability was limited to one million tonnes.
As the drought is resulting in lower yields, the shortage for maize is likely to go up further and it would have spiralling effect on prices which had already touched Rs 6,000 a tonne, as against Rs 4,800 in the same period of last year.
The federation also made an appeal for allotment of 3 lakh tonnes of wheat through FCI at the export market prices. It also asked for waiver of VAT and excise duty on poultry products, and one year moratorium on loans to the sector. It also sought subsidy on rail freight on poultry ingredients.
