The prices of poultry products such as broiler meat and egg have risen sharply during last few months because of a huge jump in feed prices.
Farmers say prices of soyabean meal, a key component in the poultry feed in Delhi, has jumped to R41,500 per tonne at present from around R21,000 per tonne a year back. Similarly, for maize, another key component of the feed, prices are ruling around R14,000 per tonne from R11,000 per tonne during the same period.
The wholesale price of live weight broiler in Delhi is at present ruling above R75 per kg while the broiler prices were at R60 per kg. At the retail level, the dressed broiler meet in Delhi is being sold in the range of Rs.170 ? 180 per kg.
Traders say the broiler prices are expected to rise further because of recent hike diesel prices leading to rise in transportation cost. ?Due to higher feed costs, the cost of production has been increased substantially leading to rise in prices of poultry products such as broiler and eggs,? Ricky Thaper, convener, Poultry Federation of India told FE. Similarly, the wholesale prices of eggs in Delhi have increased to R3.50 per piece against R3 a month back.
Thaper said the poultry prices are expected to rise till November after which new soyabean crop is expected to enter market.
The kharif soyabean crop is expected to be harvested by next month and after the oil is taken out through processing, the extract is used for poultry feed.
Meanwhile, Soyabean processors Association of India (SOPA) said due to sufficient monsoon rains in the key growing area of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra this year, the production is expected to be better than last year. The soyabean production for 2011 was estimated at 11.5 million tonne.
?The surge in soyabean meal prices are unlikely to come down to last year?s level because of sustained global demand,? a poultry trader from Punjab said.
Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) recently decided to duty free import of oil-meals to ensure feed availability to livestock. Earlier import duty on oil meals was 15%.
Fluctuations in the feed prices have been adversely impacting the growth of poultry sector in the recent months.
Poultry farmers say that for safeguarding their interest, the government should first secure the feed ingredients required for poultry and livestock industry and then the exports of soyabean meal and maize should be allowed.
