The poultry industry has asked the Andhra Pradesh Government to talk to the Union Government for banning exports and forward trading of maize to rescue the industry.

In a memorandum submitted to Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, the Andhra Pradesh Poultry Federation said that maize exports were estimated to cross 50 lakh tonnes (lt) this year as against 16 lt during October 2009-September 2010.

“In the last six months, 20 lt maize has already been exported. It is estimated that exports could be in an order of 5 lt in the next six months. This is going to hit the poultry industry very hard,” Mr D. Sudhakar, President of APPF, said.

The State, which produced 5.5 crore eggs or one-third of country's egg production a day, produced three crore broilers, comprising one-tenth of country's broiler production.

Abnormal increase in the feed, mainly maize and soyameal resulted in increase of cost of production.

The price of maize went up to Rs 1,350 a quintal this year from Rs 700-800 a quintal two years ago. Soya price increased to Rs 2,400 to Rs 2,600 a quintal from Rs 900 a quintal.

“This is in spite of good harvest of maize of 2 crore tonnes last year and substantial production of soya in the country,” he said.

As a result, cost of production of an egg had gone from Rs 2.25 to Rs 2.75 an egg and that of broilers from Rs 47-48 to Rs 58-60 a kg.

“In the absence of corresponding increase in the farm-gate prices for their produce, poultry farmers were making heavy losses. They are on the verge of closing their farms,” he said.

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