Richard Humtsoe
Poultry is one of the important components of the farming economy providing additional income and job opportunities to a large number of persons, especially to the weaker sections of the society. Poultry farming is emerging as an important activity for enhancing nutritional levels and also in providing employment. During the 1980s poultry emerge as the fastest growing segment in agriculture.
Systematic planning and application of scientific knowledge of breeding, provision of optimum feeding and improvement of management practices to suit climatic and other environmental conditions have helped poultry production program take rapid strides in the country. The impact of these programs is now being felt both in rural as well as urban areas. Indian poultry has been backed by research within the country since 1939 with the establishment of poultry research station at Izatbagar. Later on it became as full fledged research center drawing the attention of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). A centre of excellence in poultry science was established at Izatnagar to train people in research and development of poultry farming in the country, besides research on problems relating to breeding and marketing.
According to market survey poultry keeping for commercial production of egg and meat, although of recent origination is one of India’s most innovative industries, having evolved from a backyard to a vertically integrated and organized sector. It has achieved unprecedented growth during the last 30 years. Its development has not only been in terms of growth but also achieved high level of productivity and sophistication. Poultry business has also given rise to many subsidiary industries such as compounded feed, equipment, pharmaceuticals and biological, with a turnover of Rs. 3500/- crores, thereby accounting for more than one percent of India’s total GNP and more than 0.3% of the GNP realized from live stock sector.
India is sixth in table egg production and 22nd in poultry meat production. Poultry sector reportedly achieved a growth rate of 10 % during the eighties while Broiler Industry, although late in the scene registered 20 % growth rate during the same period. In spite of unfavorable condition prevailing in the early nineties such as the increasing feed process and severe out break of Gemboro and other diseases, the production of 28000 million eggs and 280 million broilers during 1992 was an all-time high and signified five and 70 fold increase respectively over of 1971.
India poultry Industry is primarily chick based. Oriented chickens account for more than 90 % of the 310 million poultry population in India. Chicken egg and meat dishes are also popular compared to other species of poultry. Chicken therefore, has received more attention in India’s planning and development process. Today, India’s chicken Industry is not only vibrant and self reliant but also one of the best of the world.
India has been a potential market for commercial layers and broilers. While the Industry owes its initial success to the import of grant parents of some of the commercial stocks like Hyline, India river, Babcock, Cobb, Shaver, Arboracre, Hubbard, Ross and Lohman, the policy of the government to achieve self reliance favored pure line breeding programs both in government and private sector for development of high-yielding layers and broilers. The market share of these breeders is increasing as is evident from the production of grand and parent stocks using these pure lines.
According to market survey while Broiler production was only 4 million during 1971, it reached 280 million by 1992. By the year 2000 total production was 1200 million.
As far as the piggery industry is concerned there is enough scope for our State to tap on resources and other inherent advantages. Nagas are basically meat eaters, and so meat constitutes an important diet item on every Naga menu. Amongst the variety of meat consumed in Nagaland, pork rate is highest being the most favored one!
After the successful implementation of Green Revolution by the Government of India, she achieved self sufficiency in food grains production. The next target was to be self sufficient in milk and meat products. So, “WHITE REVOLUTION” was initiated by Government of India which increased the milk production tremendously especially in Co-operative sector, AMUL being a pioneer in this revolution.
In meat production also India has not lagged behind, as it is the 5th largest producer of egg in the world. Today, India exports poultry meat and other frozen meats to many other countries. However, religious taboos is withholding a great chunk in production of red meat specially pork and beef. As Hindus and Muslims constitutes 90% of India’s population there are obvious constraints in what would have been a booming industry as there exists reservation on the consumption of these two meat.
The scenario in the Northeast is a little different where Christians constitute a bulk of population. In this region rather pork is the only favored item of food, always on a high demand. In fact as per findings, the local production of pigs does not meet the demand of the region at all. As a result, a large number is being imported from outside to meet the consumption demand. So, Piggery farming has great potential in Nagaland, as marketing of pork-weaned piglets, fattening pigs etc are not at all a problem. In fact the palate of local consumer (in Nagaland) is such that they would go to any extent to get a piece of the meat! Among domestic animals, pigs are the most prolific and one of the most efficient food converters. It gives an average of 8 to 16 piglets in every fatter. And they are one of the fast growing domesticated animals.
The potential for both broiler and piggery as a poultry industry is therefore immense particularly for the local economy to sustain and become self-reliant.
(The writer is the Chairman of Brotherhood Multipurpose Society, Dimapur)
