Due to rising labor expenses and higher bird deaths throughout the summer, poultry farmers in Khammam and Bhadradri-Kothagudem districts have chosen to temporarily halt broiler chicken production.
Even though the price of broiler chicken has risen to Rs 250 per kilogram, farmers claim that the higher prices do not benefit them and that only trader’s gain.
In the two districts, there are already 20 lakh birds spread across 350 poultry farms, enough to supply demand for a month.
The areas, which are known for their poultry production, produce almost 25 lakh broiler chickens every month. Suguna, Sneha, Venkateshwara Hatcheries, and Indian Broilers are among the firms with whom most chicken farmers have agreements.
Poultry farmers are paid between Rs 3 and Rs 4 per kilogram of broiler chicken by the businesses, which also offer them additional support and bird feed. A profit margin of Rs 25 to Rs 35 per kilogram is granted to retailers.
For the past 15 days, farmers in Sattupalli, which has 115 poultry units, have not been raising new birds.
K Dayakar, alias Nani, who manages a poultry farm in Sattupalli, said he has decreased the number of birds on his farm from 40,000 to 35,000 at the moment and aims to lower it to 25,000 by the end of the week.
"We will not acquire chicks in the next few weeks," he stated, citing a loss of at least 5% of chicks throughout the summer.
Each month, over 3.2 lakh birds are produced by individual poultry farmers in the area.
If the count goes below the 10 lakh mark, which is the monthly consumption in the two districts, dealers would source chicken from other districts, according to sources. Birds are also being imported from Odisha and other states by a few dealers.
"I lost 200 birds this summer," said N. Rama Rao, an independent poultry farmer. The price of chicken, which has risen beyond Rs 250 per kilo, has benefited dealers significantly more than poultry farmers. When compared to market pricing, traders provide farmers a little profit margin."
Farmers should build poultry units near coconut or palm trees, according to Alapati Ramu, a chicken farmer in Aswaraopet. "Poultry units should be built towards north and south since those facing east and west receive more sunshine," he explained.
