About 10,000 broiler chicken units in the State are facing closure due to non-supply of chickens. Banks have started distraint proceedings against the poulterers for recovery of loans and have sent them notice.

“We are on the verge of losing our properties,” Tamil Nadu Broiler Chicken Poulterers’ Welfare Association representative Dhanabal said.

Dhanabal alleged that those who participated in a 2010 stir by broiler chicken poultries to press their charter of demands, including supply of quality chickens, against suppliers, were denied supply.

Chicken supplying firms initially wanted the poulterers to rear at least 5,000 chickens and for this they had to invest Rs five lakh. While they invested Rs two lakh, they availed bank loan for setting up sheds and other infrastructure facilities.

According to him, 20,000 poulterers had set up broiler chicken business throughout the State availing bank loan to the tune of several crores of rupees. But they could not repay the loan due to fall in chicken prices and hike in costs in running the units.

Besides, the supplying firms did not buy the reared chicken for meat whenever the prices of broiler chicken fell and delayed the procurement. Now the suppliers were supplying chickens only to about 10,000 units and the other 10,000 units were facing closure.

He said the Government should direct the chicken supplying firms to resume supply as agreed initially or the banks should write-off the loans given to poulterers.

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