The Hindu Business Line : NECC appeals for ban on export of maize

The National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC) has appealed to immediately ban forward trading and export of maize and to extend by one more year, the interest subvention and moratorium on repayment of bank loans granted in the wake of bird flu earlier this year. The appeal has been sent to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, the Congress Leader, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, the Union Food and Agriculture Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar, and the Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram.

NECC said though the current price of eggs and chicken in the retail market may be perceived by consumers to be high, poultry farmers were losing more money now compared to last year.

For example, the break-even level for egg production has increased from Rs 1.30/egg last year to Rs 1.60 and for broiler production, the break-even increased from Rs 28 a kg to Rs 34, it noted. It pointed out that at this time of the year, maize price ranged between Rs 500 and Rs 550 per quintal. However, this year, it has touched Rs 900 and in some parts of North India it is as high as Rs 1,000 per quintal. Such steep increase of 90-100 per cent over the previous year was never seen in the past 30 years of the industry's history, it pointed out.

NECC noted that though the farm-gate price is slightly better now because of increased demand in winter, the price is bound to crash in January/February once the winter season was over. "Many farmers have cancelled their orders for replacement flocks, because of the apprehension that egg and chicken prices will crash in the near future while maize price will continue to be higher," it added.

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