AIBEA demands duty-free import of maize to meet poultry sector requirements

The All India Poultry Breeders Association (AIPBA) urged the government to allow duty-free import of maize to address the escalating demand from the poultry industry. The increasing use of maize in ethanol production and limited domestic output has raised concerns among poultry farmers.

Bahadur Ali, Chairman of AIPBA, emphasized the strain on poultry farmers due to soaring maize prices, currently averaging around Rs 22-23 per kg nationwide. He cautioned that this financial burden is projected to worsen by February 2024, posing a significant threat to the poultry sector.

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In a representation to the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, the association highlighted two potential solutions for addressing the surging demand for maize: importing maize or boosting domestic production. However, it noted that achieving a substantial short-term increase in domestic output seems unlikely. Consequently, importing maize from other countries appears to be the most feasible option to meet immediate demands, as stated in their representation.

Presently, there is a 50 percent basic import duty on maize. The association expressed concerns about the rising use of maize in ethanol production and emphasized that India’s annual maize production of 34.60 million tonnes falls short of meeting the needs of the poultry industry and the nation’s food security.

According to estimates from the Indian Institute of Millets Research, more than 60 percent of the country’s maize production is consumed by the poultry and livestock industry. The association cautioned that the government’s ambitious plan to derive half of the ethanol from maize by 2025-26 could have adverse effects on sectors like poultry and livestock.

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Diverting a substantial portion of the current maize production towards ethanol could create a severe demand-supply gap for essential feedstock, affecting the poultry industry in the coming years. Highlighting the disparity between maize production growth at 4.5 percent and the poultry industry’s growth at 8-9 percent over the decade, the association underscored the anticipated maize shortage for poultry, especially considering the government’s emphasis on promoting maize for ethanol production.

India stands as the sixth largest producer of maize globally, with maize production ranking second only to wheat and rice within the country.