With summer coming to an end, weather parameters are favourable for egg production, and growth in poultry for the entire zone.

A press release from Agromet Field Unit of Veterinary College and Research Institute and Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, said that the sky will be generally cloudy for the next four days with the maximum and minimum temperatures respectively be 36 degree Celsius and 24 degree Celsius.

Till last year, Phalguni Kumar Sarkar, a 45-year-old maize farmer from Nabarangpur, had little option but to sell his produce at less than the minimum support price when trucks belonging to traders from Chhattisgarh’s Raipur pulled up at his village. But this January, change came in the way maize was sold in Nabarangpur, the southern Odisha district that is arguably India’s poorest and the focus of a one-year assignment by The Indian Express. 

Poultry farmers have been asked to take preventive measures to control feed wastage due to high wind speed during monsoon. A press release here from Agromet Field Unit of Veterinary College and Research Institute and Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai has said that the sky will be generally cloudy with a chance of isolated rainfall in the next two days. Maximum and minimum temperature respectively be 36 degree Celsius, and 25 degree Celsius.

CHENNAI: As part of the precautionary measures to prevent the spread of avian flu from Karnataka, the Tamil Nadu government has suspended transportation of poultry items including chicken and eggs until the disease is brought under control in Karnataka. All district collectors have been instructed to keep vigil on this issue.

Kochi: With awareness for organic and chemical-free food staples increasing, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Krishi Vigyan Kendra of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has released a safe layer poultry (egg laying chicken) feed as part of its 'Self Farming for Safe Food' programme on Tuesday.

Frequent fluctuations in the prices of eggs and poultry feed are forcing the managements of several poultry units in East Godavari district to shut their units permanently.

At present, the price of feed is on the ascent and that of eggs is on the descent. The poultry farmers are experiencing higher input costs and meagre returns. Lack of surge in the local market and sudden drop in exports to the neighbouring States have a cascading effect on the price of the eggs.

Srinagar: With over 3000 poultry farms in valley, chicken meat production is emerging as a potential entrepreneurial enterprise among the employment-seeking educated youth of Kashmir.
Gulzar Ahmad is one such youth who has become a successful entrepreneur. The 26-year old young entrepreneur of Kanipora, Nowgam runs two farms under the banner Gulzar Poultry Farms

Fifty rapid response teams have been formed to monitor the 1,100 poultry farms in the district, following the bird flu alert that has been sounded across Karnataka.Bird flu was reported in a private poultry farm at Melkera village in Bidar district in Karnataka and 1.5 lakh chickens were culled.

Rajpura, May : At least 12 policemen and an equal number of villagers were injured in a clash over the shifting of some poultry farms from Bathunia village in Ghanaur today. While the police have registered a case against 20 villagers, the latter alleged that the police team attacked them without any provocation.

Rajpura: Patiala deputy commissioner Ramvir Singh on Tuesday announced a 10-member committee under the chairmanship of Rajpura sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Vikramjit Singh Shergill for the resolution of poultry farms' problem. Two members from the 'sangharsh' (struggle) committee formed by the villagers seeking closure of poultry farms have also been included in the panel.

Poultry farmers, under losses for two years due to over- production, are likely to see some margin recovery this season. The intense summer and drought in around 10 states have pushed up prices of both eggs and broilers.Average wholesale prices for May so far have touched Rs 375 per 100 eggs from Rs 293 for 100 eggs in April. Last year in May, prices were around Rs 290 per 100 eggs. This year around mid-May, it had peaked to Rs 440 for 100 eggs in Hyderabad.

Hyderabad: Egg prices in the city on Tuesday peaked at Rs 440 for 100 eggs, the highest ever. The sky rocketing prices mean that the average consumer will now have to pay up to Rs 24 extra per dozen.

Wholesale prices are fixed by the National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC) for different cities with the aim of keeping retail rates in the range of Rs 4 and 4.25 per egg. But with wholesale prices of each egg hovering around Rs 4.40, retail prices have soared to anywhere between Rs 5 and Rs 5.50 per egg.

With inclement weather to continue for another two days, poultry farmers were asked not to stock raw materials or finished feeds in the open as they would absorb moisture and end up forming aflatoxins.A press release from Agromet Field Unit of Veterinary College and Research Institute and Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai said that the sky will be overcast with chance of rainfall.

HYDERABAD:  The midday meals being served to students in several schools across the state include rotten eggs, inferior quality pulses, and no vegetables.Enquiries with officials revealed that while the State government mandated supply of two eggs per week to students, the contracting agencies of midday meal programme were selective in choosing the eggs from market.

Koppal district administration has instructed poultry farm owners to take precautionary measures, including maintaining cleanliness in poultry farms and providing safety equipment to workers, to prevent hens and chicks from being affected by bird flu.

Mumbai: Eggs come cheap during the summer but this season, retail rates are at a record high of Rs 54-60 per dozen, compared to the normal cost of Rs 44-48. Traders blame the drought for the crisis, saying poultry farms in Hyderabad are struggling to meet their requirement of water.

NEW DELHI: Kuwait has imposed a ban on imports of poultry products from India in the wake of bird flu outbreak in Tripura on January 4, Parliament was informed today. 

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that information is being shared to sensitise the importing countries that establishment basedcompartmentalisation is possible in India and the same may be considered for import of the products from India. 

KALABURAGI: Culling of chickens suffering from avian flu started at Arunodaya Poultry Farm at Molakera village of Humnabad taluk in Bidar district on Tuesday afternoon.

As many as 50 teams, each comprising a veterinary doctor, a veterinary inspector, two ‘D’ group employees and an assistant have been engaged to cull 1.40 lakh chickens.

BIDAR: The Bidar district administration had planned to cull lakhs of chickens on Tuesday, but realised at the last moment that it didn’t have enough earthmovers to dig pits for the carcasses.The culling will take place on Wednesday at Arunodaya Poultry Farm in Molkeri village of Humnabad taluk

HYDERABAD: The Indian poultry sector is fearing pressure on profit margins with successive droughts resulting in acute shortage of poultry feed, forcing the industry to import maize and soya after several years, coupled with rising temperatures leading to a surge in broilers' mortality. 

Despite measures like increasing the prices of chicken and eggs and strict control over production, the breeders claim no respite to the pressure on profit margins.