The Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, Dr. Charan Das Mahant, has urged representatives of the poultry sector to put forth their suggestions by December end to be incorporated in the 12th Five-Year Plan. "Though I am new to this ministry and trying to ascertain the problems involved in the poultry sector, but still I promise you all to sort out the problems faced by this poultry community," Dr. Mahant endorsed.

Inaugurating Poultry India Show 2011, the Minister said, poultry continued to be one of the most resilient fast-growing sector among agriculture and allied sectors in the country. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra accounted for 70 per cent of egg production in the country.

"The per capita consumption as per NIN recommendations is 180 eggs and 11 kg chicken where as we see that only 42 eggs and 1.6 kg chicken is consumed, which is very low. Still we have a wide scope for development and I call upon the poultry industry players to come to Chhatisgarh and full support would be provided to them. Besides that, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh Jharkhand and interior parts of Uttar Pradesh states also have a wide scope for this industry to rise," Dr. Mahant added. The sector has an estimated turnover of Rs 55,000 crore. It generates direct and indirect employment to about 6.2 million people, a number that is projected to go up to 8.2 million by the year 2015.

A special three-day exhibition with participants from both Indian and foreign companies began at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre. Th e An d h r a P r a d e s h Mini s t e r for Informa t ion Te c h n o l o g y, Mr Po n n a l a Lakshmaiah, a poultry farmer himself said, the Centre should constitute a task force to solve the sector's problems. He said the sector was important on three important counts - nutrition, rural employment generation and poultry litter contributing to about 10 percent of the total farmyard manure used in the country.

Mr. Ponnala Lakshmaiah further said that they came a long way and for the last five years we brought Atlanta (USA) to Hyderabad and after starting the booking 3, 500 sq. feet area, we reached to 10, 000 sq. feet area in the current year.

Mr. Lakshmaiah observed that the poultry industry had grown without any support or subsidy from the Government for the last three decades. It had been helpful for agriculture farmers to realize support price to agri commodities, create rural employment, meet protein requirement of the nation and also fulfill the need of fertilizers upto 10 percent, saving foreign exchange and Government's subsidy up to Rs.70, 000 crores through the poultry litter.

Mr. Ponnala Lakshmaiah also called upon the Central Government to come forward to develop poultry to the needs of the nation. Poultry sector needs preferential care and not to make any favour to poultry farmers or poultry equipment manufacturers or any stake holders of poultry in the form of subsidies. He further lamented that the Government has not extended the agriculture status though in all respects poultry is part of agricultural itself.

While celebrating fifth edition of Poultry India Show 2011, the ex-President and founder member of Indian Poultry Equipment Manufacturers' Association (IPEMA), Anil Dhumal said, "Today it's a great time for the satisfaction for administration as Poultry India is entering into the sixth year. We have proved that Poultry India show is truly our industry show. The success of the show is not a team work of only Poultry India, but it is because of all of you, who whole heartedly participated in thisshow for the last five years."

Speaking on the welfare of poultry farmers, Mr. Dhumal further said that they had made a very big and strong platform for the Indian poultry industry.

While serving for four consecutive years and introducing the new President of Poultry India, Mr. P. Chakradhar Rao to the audience, Anil Dhumal finally stated, "We have the vision that if poultry farmer is well educated, aware of the new technologies, surely he will earn maximum. If farmer is surviving and getting money then all the stakeholders of poultry industry would be benefitted. That is our vision on which we are working and taking care of our farmers."

While inaugurating the Show, the new President of Poultry India, Mr. P.Chakradhar Rao in his first speech gave detailed information on so many sensitive issues including the Value Added Tax (VAT).

Mr. Chakradhar called upon the Government in general and Union Minister of state for Agriculture & Food Processing, Dr. Charan Das Mahanth in particular to consider the uniformity in value added tax all over India. "Poultry equipments are not considered as capital goods by some states due to which manufacturing companies in states like Maharashtra, Karnataka are struggling to survive by paying more VAT and the difference is more than 7 to 8.5 percent resulting in stiff competition among the market," he said and added, "India is one of the least costs producing country in eggs and chicken as climatic conditions are gift for us to produce chicken and eggs at low cost and at low investment."

Mr. Chakradhar Rao also spoke on Preferred Food, Awareness about Nutrition, latest technical know how and upgradation of technologies which is need of the hour, Investment in Poultry litter to convert into organic manure saving thousands of crores of rupees while importing fertilisers from foreign countries and liberal financing from all institutions as well as banks, where funding in poultry industry must be given through agri-route and that too at lower rate of interest.

Mr. Rao also requested, "Government should also think about exemptions of Income tax or deferment of taxes on these high investment projects related to this poultry industry."

The Poultry India President was of the view that Product movement, Storage and handling infrastructure needs very high investment and the Government must support with all possible ways to give pace and viability to the poultry industry.

Briefing on the Poultry India Show, which they collectively started from year 2007 onwards, Mr. Rao also called upon the Government machinery to set up Disease, Zoning and International Trade.

"I need to mention effective zoning program which is becoming must day by day. Indian poultry industry needs very robust disease control infrastructure enabling to not only provide safe and qualitative food to masses but also to play in the international trade," Mr. Rao stressed.

The President, Poultry Breeders Association (AP), Mr. Rami Reddy spoke on export potential and said, "Farmers are ready but the rules and regulations of Government of India are creating problem in the form of excise and others. Our farmers need clear policy and that's what we need to ask the Chief Guest, Dr. Charan Das Mahant to intervene and take positive steps to streamline the export policy for the poultry sector in particular."

While appreciating the Poultry India Show 2011, the Joint Secretary in the Department of Animal Husbandry Dairying and Fishries, a 1989 Batch UPCadre IAS,Mr. Sanjay R.

\ Bhoosreddy confirmed,"Senior bureaucrats of Government of India arebusy for making policies. Without knowing sector, I won't be able to pinpoint policy and that's why I request all the poultry players to submit their problems so that proper policy could be framed." Mr. Bhoosreddy further said, "Government of India is keen to get the best of things. Eggs and chicken are the best source of protein and India is lacking in protein intake, just 10 grams is being consumed as against 25 grams per day per capita is needed."