Kerala in need of poultry policy

ALAPPUZHA: Kerala needs a poultry policy to address the burgeoning demand for poultry products and reduce its dependence on other States as the gap between production and requirement of eggs reached an alarming level.

Dr A. Jalaludheen, the project officer at the College of Avian Science and Management of the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) told DC that there had been a huge decline in production from the 90s.

Despite a slight growth rate over some years, considering the requirement it is pretty low. The State needs a policy to curtail the gap between demand and production.

He blames the shortfall on the fast life and shortage of space in houses. Dr Shelvarajan, marketing manager, Kerala State Poultry Development Corporation (KSPDC), which implemented a project in 2013 to address the issue, agrees that the production of poultry products in the State is far below the actual requirement.

“The production has seen slight increase over the years. But it’s far below as far as the requirement is concerned. The KSPDC had set up layer farms that can house 50,000 birds with temperature control and mechanised egg collection as part of efforts to increase the egg production,” he said.

The production and sale of poultry products took a beating with the bird flu outbreak in November in Kuttanad and surrounding places forcing the government to impose a ban on the movement of poultry and poultry products.

Animal husbandry department (AHD) director V. Brahmanandan said though the ban was lifted here Tamil Nadu continues the ban on poultry from Kerala.