Poultry Associations Join Hands to Stabilise Chicken Prices, Seek Feed Cost Relief

Leading poultry associations and industry representatives from across India have come together to discuss the challenges facing the poultry sector, including fluctuating chicken prices, rising feed costs and concerns over the availability of feed ingredients due to El Niño conditions. The All India Poultry Breeders Association (AIPBA), Pan India Breeders Association (PIBCC) and representatives of various state-level poultry associations held a high-level meeting at the Novotel Hotel in Shamshabad, Hyderabad. Industry leaders discussed recent changes in chicken prices, the rising cost of maize and the availability of essential feed materials. As a key outcome, breeders from different zones agreed to coordinate their efforts to improve price stability, using ₹110 per kg as the minimum benchmark for live chicken. They observed that the recent decline in chicken prices was largely linked to seasonal factors, including lower consumption during certain festival periods, and described the fluctuations as temporary.

The industry representatives also called for government intervention to reduce poultry feed costs. They urged the government to permit duty-free imports of non-GMO maize and suggested making effective use of domestically available soybean to meet feed requirements. Given the potential impact of El Niño on feed supply and prices, they stressed the need for advance planning. As part of their next steps, the associations decided to meet government representatives and policymakers in New Delhi towards the end of next week to present the industry's concerns and seek policy support. The meeting was attended by AIPBA Chairman Bahadur Ali, PIBCC Convenor Vasanth Kumar Shetty, TPBA President Dr A. Tirupathi Reddy and other senior industry representatives. The associations said coordinated efforts were essential to strengthen the poultry sector and support its sustainable growth.