Poultry industry Crisis and demand in the Poultry Industry Crisis by PPA
PPA demands to take steps to support poultry industry in current crisis | Poultry industry Crisis and demand in poultry industry crisis by Pakistan Poultry Association.
پاکستان پولٹری ایسوسی ایشن کی وزیر اعظم پاکستان سے اپیل
During the last five years, due to increase in input costs, increase in feed prices, depreciation of the rupee, heavy electricity bills and high bank discount rates, all segments of the poultry business have faced huge financial losses. Due to Corona, severe difficulties were also faced.
On the other hand, due to high costs, exports of poultry products have also been reduced to a minimum. Due to sudden increase in prices of petroleum products and depreciation of the rupee and long hours of load shedding, all sectors of the industry are facing the worst situation. These views on the growing poultry industry crisis were expressed by Dr. Abdul Karim, Chairman, Pakistan Poultry Association Northern Region, in a conversation with the media.
Poultry Industry Crisis Repeatedly Brought to the Notice of Policymakers
He said that to deal with this deteriorating poultry industry crisis, all the issues have been brought to the notice of the policymakers many times, but unfortunately, the response has been given indifferently and somehow the policymakers are in the belief that it will get better on its own.
He said that the situation has deteriorated to such an extent that the business cannot be revived. Similarly, serious food security issues are arising. Due to the attitude of various government agencies in the poultry business, this deterioration is further increasing and the difficulties of poultry farmers are increasing.
Poultry Industry Crisis and Effects
He said that the poultry industry works on the principles of supply and demand, where demand fluctuates widely based on many factors and production remains more or less constant.
He said that due to various factors, poultry has been repeatedly accused of selling at high prices and profiteering for the last 5 years. Poultry plays an important role in controlling the prices of other meats, pulses and to some extent vegetables. The current attitude of the authorities is creating difficulties in the way of continuing this sector, making the poultry industry crisis even more serious. Therefore, urgent attention is needed from the relevant quarters.
Poultry Industry Crisis Requires Immediate Government Support
Dr. Abdul Karim said that urgent steps will have to be taken to save the poultry sector from the ongoing poultry industry crisis.
He demanded that all import and sales taxes on the import of raw materials, chemicals and machinery used in the preparation of basic food be abolished. Sales tax on the sale of basic food (grains), flour, meat, eggs, milk, fish, vegetables, fruits, edible oil, etc. be abolished. Imported, tax-free solar energy systems should be allowed for food production enterprises and loans should be issued for the installation of such energy systems without markup. Along with this, to keep the poultry sector sales tax-free, all primary food sectors should be sales tax-free.
Need for a Long-Term Production Policy
He said that going forward, we will have to take more steps. He said that poultry depends on the import of many ingredients, i.e. seeds for soybean, canola and sunflower oil have to be imported. A production policy should be formulated in the country for these seeds so that they can be produced in our country and valuable foreign exchange can be saved.
He demanded that attractive support prices be announced for local production of soybean, canola and sunflower seeds. Furthermore, he said that production of hybrid sorghum and sorghum alternative grains should be encouraged in water-scarce areas and areas not very suitable for maize production.
He also demanded that the poultry marketing setup be reorganized and opportunities be provided for stabilizing poultry prices and export market for poultry processing.
Poultry Industry Crisis and Increase in Input Costs
Dr. Abdul Karim said that the poultry sector had repeatedly sent its submissions to the concerned authorities which were sometimes understandable but were not given any attention. The “cost of production” in the agriculture sector in general and poultry in particular is a false narrative because no farmer will understand it, instead all farmers know their “input cost” which has increased by more than 200%.
Poultry Industry Crisis and Threat to Food Security
He said that the poultry sector is the foundation of Pakistan’s food security and it also supports the production of many other sectors. If this sector is not saved from the ongoing poultry industry crisis, then food security as well as the country’s economy may face major losses.
