SRINAGAR: The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has issued a grave warning about the imminent collapse of the poultry sector in Jammu and Kashmir, calling on the government to treat the crisis as a statewide economic emergency.
In a joint meeting with the Kashmir Valley Poultry Farmers Association (KVPFA) held at the FCIK headquarters on Wednesday, stakeholders said the poultry industry—a cornerstone of rural livelihoods and a major source of self-employment—is spiralling into distress due to prolonged neglect, poor policy support, and market disruptions. The session was chaired by FCIK President Shahid Kamili and attended by senior members of the FCIK Advisory Committee, including Shakeel Qalander, M.D. Qureshi, and Mohammad Ashraf Mir. The KVPFA delegation, led by President Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, included senior representatives from various districts across the Valley.
Participants in the marathon meeting expressed serious concern over the shrinking of local poultry production, which they said had dropped from 85 per cent of the region’s consumption to just 20 per cent since the abolition of the Lakhanpur toll post and associated tax exemptions. Once a model of grassroots entrepreneurship, the sector now faces escalating production costs, lack of infrastructure, and unfair competition from cheaper imports, threatening tens of thousands of jobs and dealing a blow to food security.
“The industry has been in a state of slow collapse for over eight years,” said a KVPFA spokesperson. “Despite repeated appeals, policymakers have failed to offer market protection or sustained policy support. Now we’re looking at a full-blown economic and social disaster.”
Among the structural disadvantages highlighted were high construction and operational costs, a lack of grandparent and parent stock, non-functional hatcheries and feed mills, elevated poultry mortality rates due to harsh climate, and limited market access. The delegation said that the absence of a comprehensive poultry policy had left the sector vulnerable to outside competition.
They also took issue with the continued import of frozen and dressed chicken from other states at extremely low prices, saying it had further destabilised local production. “There is no oversight on the quality of this imported meat,” warned one KVPFA member. “It could be outdated or even from dead and diseased birds. This is not only an economic issue—it’s a serious public health concern.”
The FCIK supported this demand and called for an immediate ban on such imports until proper inspection mechanisms are in place. It also urged the government to reintroduce Cess or Octroi on poultry imports, similar to measures taken by other states, to restore a level playing field for local producers.
FCIK President Shahid Kamili said the Federation would initiate urgent talks with the government, pressing for the formation of an expert committee to conduct a full assessment of the poultry value chain and to propose a phased revival plan. He also stressed the importance of gathering ground-level data to inform a meaningful policy overhaul and introduce practical incentives for sustainable growth.
“This is not just about chickens or farms,” Kamili said. “It’s about saving thousands of livelihoods, ensuring food security, and preventing the collapse of a vital rural economy.”
FCIK’s call comes amid growing anxiety in the business community over the widening gap between local capabilities and the challenges posed by deregulated imports and policy inertia. The Federation said it would continue to press for immediate measures to prevent what it termed “a catastrophic failure in the making.”
