The Hindu Business Line : Drop in maize supply puts TN poultry sector in a coop

The short supply of maize and the consequent surge in its price in the past two weeks have pushed up the production cost for both the layer and broiler producers.

The latter being the high volume feed consumers is the worst hit.

"With the maize stocks from Karnataka, the principal supply source for the southern poultry, almost going empty, the availability of the cereal has become the big question for the poultry rearers," said Mr B. Soundararajan, Managing Director of the poultry major Suguna Poultry Farms.

He told Business Line that though the new maize crop season is just a month away, right now many find it difficult in getting the required maize whose price has shot up to Rs 7000-7400 per tonne as against the last year's Rs 6,000 plus price band. The soaring maize price has in turn lifted the per kg broiler production cost this year to Rs 31 from last year's Rs 26, he added.

According to Mr Soundararajan, most poultry integrators and major poultry farmers in the State are now struggling on the raw material front.

The make do opting for the day-to-day piecemeal purchase of maize and soya.

Even as the production cost for broilers has surged, the farm-gate selling price of the live-birds has failed to improve.

The selling price continues to stagnate at Rs.26-Rs.27 per kg at several production centres.