Oversupply and Stagnant Demand:
On one side, there has been an oversupply of shrimp in the global market, and on the other side, the demand has remained subdued due to inflation in the US, Europe, and China, our major markets. Both these factors resulted in lower prices for the farmers. There was, however, little to no difference in prices at the consumer level in the markets, therefore it may be assumed that buyers in the importing countries bargained for lower prices because of oversupply and did not pass their benefits to the consumers.

Mismatch in Imports & Production Figures:
As per available data from various sources, India imported 25% fewer broodstocks compared to the previous year but this reduction is not reflected in the production and export data. Society of Aquaculture Professionals (SAP) in their annual shrimp crop review meeting on January 5, 2024, came up with a preliminary production estimate of 8-9 lakh tonnes in 2023.

Farmers’ Sentiment:
Due to the prevailing negative sentiment, farmers may not stock as they used to and hence there would be a reduced production expected in 2024. Almost all presenters at the Shrimp Crop 2023 Review meeting by SAP opined that the production would be lower by 20-25%. Global production might keep increasing, particularly in South America which is better in genetics, disease management, and scale of production as there are fewer players. However, the recent developments in Ecuador may result in lowered production in that country which is currently the top producer of shrimp in the world and that may change the picture and lead to higher stocking in India.

Unified marketing approach:
With increased production, there is an urgent need for unified marketing efforts. Traditionally, the USA, Europe, and Japan have been the export destinations for Indian shrimp and recently China has become an important destination also. While there has been reduced demand from Japan due to low consumption, it is compensated for by China which is importing more shrimp. The need for combined efforts among the supplying countries is recognized now, thus initiatives are started where seafood export associations from different countries are coming together to create one message for the world market in the hope that it can boost shrimp consumption in all markets.

Developing Domestic Market:
India, with the largest population in the world, has great potential for domestic consumption. However, it needs infrastructure development to fully realize this potential. Industry players and farmers are beginning to see this as an opportunity. Additionally, campaigns to increase consumer awareness are attaining importance among the stakeholders of the shrimp farming sector.

India is no more in isolation:
Marketing strategies that worked 10 years ago for the Indian Shrimp industry are no longer relevant in the present scenario. Today, India is one of the biggest global suppliers of shrimp and hence it needs to be competitive enough to remain in business. Buyers have also become more stringent with respect to certifications, zero tolerance on antibiotic residues, etc. So, compliance requirements are high. The quality of Indian shrimp has improved in the past few years, but this message should reach the world market more effectively.

Fish industry:
India is a major producer of freshwater fish like carp and Pangasius. Pangasius can be cultured in high densities so it is a preferred species for culture all over India. In 2023, the price of Pangasius declined for most of the year and farmers in Andhra Pradesh where Pangasius is widely farmed, lost money. Expanding fish culture in Northern and Eastern India puts pressure on the price of fish in AP which depends on the northern and eastern markets for consumption. However, markets for fish are expanding with the rising demand for processed or ready-to-cook fish, which are largely imported from Vietnam. Indian companies, especially from Andhra Pradesh, are also exploring this segment. Overall, the fish sector is expected to grow in 2024.

New feed mills in North India:
Along with fish sector growth in North & East India, feed manufacturers are also investing in the region. Even some established players from South India might invest in states like Bihar, UP, Orissa, West Bengal, etc. A large project for producing Rainbow Trout is being established in Kashmir and will come into production in 2024.

Crises in fishmeal and fish oil:
Major producing areas of fishmeal and fish oil in South America are highly impacted by El Nino. Hence, there was lesser availability of both ingredients and increased exports from India. The prices of fishmeal went up from USD 1500 to USD 2000 per tonne and fish oil prices went up from USD 2000-2500 to USD 5000 per tonne.

There is no alternative available in the required quality and quantity to replace fishmeal and fish oil. Whether it is insect meal or algal oil, the volume of production is nowhere near the demand, therefore alternatives are constrained.

I feel 2024 is going to be another tough year with various challenges like 2023 but the aquaculture sector is used to meeting challenges well and we will see the same in 2024 too.

by Victor Suresh

The post 2023 Review of Indian Aquaculture appeared first on Benison Media.

Decision based on science
In my view it is a pragmatic decision long awaited by our poultry sector. Our opposition to GM crops or ingredients in crop/food items has been based more on beliefs and ideology and less on science and economics.

Impact on Indian Soy Farmers
Soya is the most critical feed and key input in poultry. The end price and profitability depend to a large extent upon the behaviour of the soya market, so in the end it is a good decision. Proof of the pudding is in eating; so, let us not presume any adverse impact on soya farmers. There is not going to be any, but if at any stage such apprehensions come true the situation could always be reviewed. There is no long-term contractual obligation.
There is no threat, as of now, to our poultry industry from import of GM or other poultry. It has been nearly a decade since we lost out to the USA in the WTO on this issue, but have you seen any American poultry flooding the market. In fact, our perspective should be to encourage competition to enable our poultry to export which at present is negligible, close to zero. I think providing good policy support such as allowing free access to cheap inputs, as in the instant case, is a step in the right direction. Our poultry should aim to dominate global trade rather than retreat in the face of competition.

Impact the Indian Poultry industry
Poultry industry is heavily dependent on maize and soybean which are the two major ingredients in poultry feed. Unfortunately, Soybean meal prices have increased by more than 100 % for the past one year. Poultry industry is adversely affected by the increase in soybean meal price, resulting in high cost of production of feed and chicken meat and eggs.
Globally, the majority of the countries are growing GMO soybean. The cost of GMO soybean meal in the US and Brazil is INR 35 to 40, whereas Indian poultry farmers pay about INR 90 to 100 per kg. This results in a high cost of production of meat and eggs.
Feed accounts for ~70% of cost of production. Shortage of supply of soybean meal and resulting increase in cost of feed could be a major factor that may hinder the growth potential of Indian h of Indian Poultry.     The Indian Poultry Industry today needs around 28 million tons of poultry feed to produce approx. 4.9 million tons of chicken meat and 105 billion eggs per year.  We need around 14 million tons of maize and 6 million tons of soybean meal per year to produce 28 million tons of poultry feed.

Relying on soybean meal is risky
Import of soybean meal is not a permanent feature. This year the Government of India is planning to import 15 lakh tons of soybean meal because of shortage for use in poultry and livestock industry. Import depends upon production and demand for soy meal in the country. Importing soybean meal on a regular basis will definitely have a negative impact on soybean farmers.
Relying on soybean meal alone can be risky. Poultry industry should try to use alternative protein sources to soybean meal in poultry rations. But relying on soybean meal alone and expecting that they will always be available and at reasonable price levels is risky.

Change in structure of industry – The need of the hour
US consumers strongly prefer chicken breasts to legs, so breasts can cost four times as much as legs. In India, however, all chicken meat costs the same. The industry says it can compete with whole US chickens, but not chicken legs, which are too cheap.
India should change its industry structure, exporting chicken breasts at a high price to the US and importing cheap legs. That will lower the consumer price in India while boosting exports and keeping the industry viable. It will be a win-win situation.

Chicken consumption
Chicken consumption in India nosedived in 2020 due to Covid-19. Supply-chain disruptions, including logistics and labour challenges had an impact on poultry consumption also. B2B was impacted the most with closure of restaurants and hotels during lockdown with slow recovery in the 2nd half of 2020.
India experienced similar challenges in 2021 owing to 2nd Covid wave however most of the challenges were managed in a better way compared to last year.
Consumer demand has experienced good growth during the crisis with direct-to-consumer business models leading this growth. Many of the meat start-ups have seen good demand for poultry products through their platform riding on consumers’ growing concerns towards quality, safety and hygiene of the products.
Demand is expected to improve in 2021 over 2020 and is expected to reach 2019 levels. Consumer demand remains the key growth driver with B2B demand on a roller coaster ride since last year. Institutional demand is expected to recover in 2nd half of 2021.

Feed availability and prices
The key issue for the poultry industry this year is high feed prices due to reduced availability of feed. Increase in feed prices this year, significantly higher than last year particularly for soyameal, is expected to impact the industry margins this year. The only respite for the industry is that average broiler price has been higher compared to last year however higher feed prices are expected to reduce the margins for the Indian poultry industry in 2021 compared to last year. Improvement in feed supplies on account of prospects of good kharif harvest in next quarter alongwith imports of soyameal may help reduce the impact by bringing down the feed prices.

Suggestions for the government authorities
The top priority by all stakeholders is to convince the government for permission to cultivate GMO maize and soybean. The advantages are many, for example India used to be a net importer of cotton about 20 years back. After the introduction of GMO cotton (BT Cotton), India’s production increased and today India is the world’s largest exporter of cotton.
Further the Nobel Prize winners say ‘there has never been a single confirmed case of a negative health outcome for humans or animals from their consumption. Their environmental impacts have been shown repeatedly to be less damaging to the environment, and a boon to global biodiversity.’
“Indian regulators must seize the opportunity and promote GM crops. India needs them to feed a growing population and livestock and poultry,” suggested Prof Devegowda.

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In the conditioning process, starch gelatinization is one of the major factors. How does it influence the animal performance as well as the feed quality and pellet machine productivity?
MR: Starch gelatinization is the skeleton producing good quality of feed, a feed mill usually achieves 25-30% starch gelatinization. Improvising on this is a task for feed miller.Starch gelatinization basically improves the palatability and the bird performance. Starch gelatinization in pellet processing can be broadly classified into Caramelization – addressing the sugar part, Gelatinization – addressing the starch part and Maillard Reaction – de-structuring the activity of protein.
Starch gelatinization increases the energy level of the ingredients. Few experiments show that if maize is treated at 80-85°C at proper conditioning level, then there is an energy increase that helps the birds in contributing nutrients. In conditioning or gelatinizing, there is also plasticizing of individual particles i.e., feed particles will get together which help in binding. And there is a creation of liquid bridges between the particles which are formed during processing which results in gelatinization, causing the lubricating effect to the product. So, it will help the feed to get pelletized easily and will reduce electricity consumption, improve your throughput and more than anything it will help in formation of good quality pellets.
Better the gelatinization process is, the lower the fine percentage will be. Other advantages are destruction of anti -nutritional factors and increasing solubility of NSPs (Non-Starch Polysaccharides). There is disadvantage if pellets are treated with conditioning temperature and moisture, some problems might be created for wheat and barley diets. As it will cause increased solubility of some of the non-starch polysaccharides causing some gut health issues. Apart from that, some of the phytates, an antinutritional factor, also gets destroyed whenever it is properly gelatinized and processed.

As in the feed milling process, starch will be damaged due to the grinding process as well as in the pellet die, whereas conditioning only will have the actual gelatinization. How to identify the percentage of starch gelatinization happening only because of the conditioning?
GRM: Different methods like enzyme analysis and maltose assay can be used to test gelatinization percentage. Also, there is a colorimetry method called double beam spectroscopy which can also be used for gelatinization. Nowadays, feed microscopy is the latest one. Using Polarized Light Microscopy one can clearly see the different stages of gelatinization.

Managing targeted moisture with new crops which usually have higher moisture or stored grains which usually have lower moisture, is a challenge for feed miller. What would be your suggestions?
NL: The main problem for temperature or moisture regulation is moisture addition at the set temperature. Steam is added which brings the moisture but it is not added with the moisture set point rather added to the temperature set point. Feed producers have problems obtaining the right moisture content when the initial moisture content of the grain is too high and adding moisture by temperature brings an evident problem right there itself.
The low moisture is more or less easily handled. It can be adjusted by water spray at a very early stage in the process line in the main mixture, not in the raw material.Using very fine nozzles is the key. When water steam is applied later in the conditioner, water is actually applied in the most optimum way as it will be absorbed by every little particle.
But when water is added by spraying nozzles, we have droplets which will take a long time to migrate into the particles and even then, proper absorption is not achieved resulting in multiple problems. When water droplet is added into the feed it does not evaporate as easily as the water added by steam, it will remain as a moist spot in the feed resulting in rotting and the bacteria growth due to increased water activity. That is why water is often applied together with a surfactant that will reduce bacterial growth.
In the wet situation while using a fresh harvest, moisture control is more difficult. Due to the cost involved, grain drying is avoided. One of the quite easy methods is actually to have a die with a shorter compression ratio, a shorter compression channel and a lower L/D ratio.

Formulations keep on changing as per the market conditions which influence both target moisture and temperature. What are your suggestions to optimize?
GRM: The formulation changes frequently almost every month because of the raw material price and availability, and the weather conditions. Generally, in the winter season, bird growth rate is very high and the market price for the ready bird is also good which usually is not the case in summer season. The feed miller should have at least 2-3 types of dies with various designs especially focusing on the compression ratio or L/D ratio. If the L/D ratio is maintained for different formulations then one will get a good pelleting rate in any situation. Selecting the right kind of die for any particular formulation is the key.

What are the factors to optimize throughput, energy consumption, and pellet quality?
MR: Pellet mill output is basically a fine balance between three factors i.e., raw material, process control and the machine. Raw material characters include four parameters i.e., physical parameters that are formulation density, moisture level, particle size and the shape. The finer the particle is, the better the palatability will be. But many times, looking at the gut health, one tends to increase the particle size and end up with more coarser particles resulting in a compromised pellet quality. Apart from that the uniformity of the particle size distribution is also very important, if it is grinded in a 3-4 mm combination sieve and does not have a normal bell curve particle distribution, it will cause problems. A lot of factors influence the chemical properties, basic ones are gelatinization, starch content, crude protein content, fat content, fiber content and ash content. The ash content is also very important, in the normal broiler feed processing ash content is about 5-6% but when it is breeder feed processing you will never get output like in broiler feeds. The major difference causing this problem is ash content.
Under process control, steam quality is most important. Multiple controls in steam especially the pressure at the inlet of the injection point is very important and the throughput regulation. Many times, in rush the pellet quality is compromised. If it is not properly gelatinized, it will have a lot of fine returns screwing up the pelleting process. Also, for liquid addition, in India, traditionally feed miller goes for addition of 4-5% of fat without any calculation while in present scenario when the price of oil is so high, one cannot add 2-2.5% oil. Excess fine returns, excess fat or throughput not regulated properly need to be controlled.
The machine typically involves die, roller, and cooling and drying, and feed rate. Die hole, configuration and die diameter are important factors. Roller adjustment is a skill especially when it is related to moisture percentage. In drying and cooling, if it is not properly cooled and moisture is not taken out, it will affect the pellet quality. The whole cycle, starting from formulation to bagging, needs to be controlled to have optimum pellet mill output. It needs proper synchronization between the control panel team and the operators.

What according to you is the technology solution assuring less variation in the roll setting?
LS: Roll adjustment is a fine art but generally the operators do not want to have interruptions. They prefer to push the rollers out into zero position or even in a minus position which squeezes tight against the inside die surface. What a feed miller need is really close but not touching position of the rollers which is an ideal situation.
Considering process variations or formulations with low, medium or high fat, an instant change of the die configuration on a daily or hourly basis is the simple solution. A feed miller has two or three dies lying next to the press and using a Quick Die Changing (QDC) system the die can be replaced within 10-15 minutes.
Automatic roller adjustment is a technically advanced solution. This system can introduce a gap entry in between die and roller variable from zero to 5-6 mm. It is basically bringing up the press to normal capacity then a gap is introduced in between the roller and the die while looking carefully at press amperage. If there is instability in the press amperage while the roller is retracted from the die that is a signal that all rollers are not continuously gripping into the die rather are slipping, normally, it is the left-hand side leading roller.
When a gap in between the roller and die is introduced, the kneading time is also increased which will consume more power but that power goes into the feed which cools off the die and makes pellets with higher durability and quality. This means a die is installed to suit easy formulations and when it is more complicated formulations which require higher L/D and longer compression then the rollers can be retarcted by giving more power.

What are the critical factors of cooling to achieve the standard moisture as well as the temperature?
MR: The vertical cooler or counter flow cooler is mostly used. Cooling is the most critical factor to determine the end-product quality at bagging, basically the moisture control or water activity (AW). The functioning of a cooler depends upon different critical factors.
First is input and output, the input in the cooler is hot and high moist pellets, and the expected output is low temperature pellet (~4-5°C lower temperature) with reduced moisture of around 11.5-12% (as per Indian conditions) at the time of bagging. Both objectives can be achieved by using the counter flow of the air to cool the pellets and the amount of temperature loss in the cooler is basically defined by the quality of air used to absorb the cooler.
Another factor is the temperature of the cooling air whether it is cool or warm and humidity percentage of the cooling air. The water capacity of high humid air is very less, normally in such conditions, the cooler turns inefficient to reduce the moisture. There are options like increasing the speed of air or installing fans with VFPs (Variable Frequency Drives) which remove the moisture more accurately. Unfortunately, in a high humid climate, the moisture is not reduced and the end products have high moisture and temperature. This leads to fungus growth in the feed.
With cool air, there is a different issue of condensed water. When the cool air gets in and absorbs moisture it results in low atmospheric temperature and hence water condensation is observed. This is observed especially in North India and Eastern part of the country, in winter (when temperature goes as low as 10-15°C), water condensation takes place in the cooler and spoils the entire product.
The air flow rate or the volume of air should also be calculated and it should be normal. In India with four different seasons, cooling is very dynamic.

While setting up the rolls, which is a conventional setting done by an operator, can we measure if the gap is the optimum gap by measuring the temperature increase at the dies?
NL: There is not any exact set point, it is the power or the temperature increase. A functioning consequence of the amperage that is put into the entrance in the pellet mill, which means more the power consumption higher the temperature of the feed. Higher temperature can be a problem for enzymes like phytase which will deactivate that means you need to compensate with either pre- or post-pellet supplement.

Do you suggest any changes with respect to the residence time of the conditioner based on the formulation?
GRM: In pelleting, on a scale of 100, grinding is 33% then conditioning is 33% followed by 25% in die selection and remaining 9% is cooling. So, the conditioning process is very important. Earlier the pellet mill manufacturers were using single barrel conditioners but with better awareness on conditioning or retention time, they started using two or even three conditioners.
Whether it is a single or multi barrel conditioner, the most important factor is the retention time of the material in the conditioner. For that the operator gives constant speed to the conditioner drive shaft and each shaft at a specific speed delivers the material from one barrel to the second barrel and hence forward. To achieve this constant speed, the machine manufacturer gives a VFD drive (variable frequency drive) to the conditioner. A feed miller should assure a minimum conditioning time of 40-45 seconds right from the feeder to the conditioner till the end of the last conditioner where it enters the pellet mill. Another important point to consider is that the more the fine material is lesser is the conditioning time, say 40 seconds.
Also, one should check the quality of grinding. A simple testing method is to take 200 gm of material and put it on 1 mm lab test sieve then sieve it for 15-20 times and the material which has passed through the sieve should be minimum 80% then it is fine grinding. That means the retention on the 1 mm will be 20%. If it is lesser, then a standard 3 mm sieve is used for the grinder or if possible, it can be 2.8 mm. The grinder sieve can be finer but that will take more time for grinding and the pellet mill will starve for material, so some solution needs to be found out and conditioning is very important.
Another important factor is to have saturated steam. I have observed usage of high-pressure boilers in various feed mills. My suggestion is to use a saturated steam boiler with a pressure of 10.54 kg/cm2. Above this would deliver superheated steam and if the pressure is lesser around 8-9 kg/cm2 then it will deliver wet steam.
NL: At Andritz we try to achieve a retention time of 30-40 seconds. From a technology point of view, it is not recommended to adjust the speed of the shaft because then it does not lift the material into the air compared to the quantity it lifts at normal speed which leaves most of the meal lying down in the conditioner. If the retention time is to be increased then some of the paddles are flipped from forward position to backward position to retain the meal and remain at nominal speed. It is really important that the meal is flying up over the shaft in the conditioner all the way around otherwise the steam cannot get to the particles.

What is the best L/D ratio for cattle feed?
GRM: Nowadays, cattle feed pellets are around 4 mm as maize is added in the formulation. But the formulation of cattle feed is such that it is high in fiber and sand silica and hence the L/D ratio is quite different from poultry feed. It should be around 8-10%, not more than that. Also, one has to go as per the fiber in the formulation if it is very high in the formulation then also the L/D ratio will change.

What is your opinion about the online moisture control for the entire plant?
NL: The technology provides a lot of benefits like moisture adjustment, moisture measurement or protein measurement. Most of the feed millers are using it for online moisture measurement to ensure the least cost optimization. The moisture online NIR is best placed before the pellet mill and it should be installed on the main mixer. Of course, it can do raw material moisture check. In the process line, one can install online measurement on the side of the batch mixer which then can adjust the moisture as per set point. NIR cannot be easily placed at the pellet mill because the technology is based on light reflection, as the moisture sets inside the core of the pellet and light will not reach there and therefore one will get a biased result. So, if one wants to install NIR at a pellet mill, one needs to crush the pellets.NIR is not a plug and play system rather a costly instrument that holds tremendous potential.
MR: The application of online moisture NIR control is very important in the mixer because adjusting the water level for dry conditions causes a lot of problems especially in the Indian context and results in issues with feed consumption. While using NIR, the positioning of sensors in different parts of the mixer and at same time 8-10 reading can be taken. The thumb rule is for every 0.07-0.08% moisture increase an adjustment of 10°C in temperature is required in the conditioning. Using multiple moisture measuring sensors in the mixer one can decide the quantity of water to be added and temperature to be set especially for dry conditions.

Audience Questions:

What is the practical role of pellet binder in commercial poultry feed as feed would be on hold for more than 15-20 days?
It improves binding capacity and pellet remain durable for longer time which results in minimum fines % even after long period storage and handling.

How to correct the formulated feed nutrient content and finished feed nutrient content, if there is difference?
First you decide CV for different nutrient value and same is to be compared with finished feed nutrient and if values are within CV range, material should allow for dispatch or make a decision reprocess the feed.

How much compression and LD ratio required?
L D ratio interprets compression length.
L stands for length through which material is compressed.
D is the diameter of pellets being produced.
L D ratio is different for poultry feed pellets & different for cattle feed pellets.
In poultry feed pellets ratio should be between 10 to 12.
In cattle feed pellets ratio should be between 8 to 10.

Conclusions:
The webinar series discussed the scope of optimizing the feed milling process. It aimed at improving quality or efficiency without disturbing the milling specification any of the process. Every feed miller wishes to achieve these parameters by using the technology. Below are the take home message from the webinar:

• The standard starch gelatinization is 60-70% while the actual starch gelatinization happening in feed milling is less than 30%.
• Feed microscopy is the best method to test starch gelatinization.
• For improved quality and productivity, a feed miller should look into the three factors – raw material, process control and fine returns.
• For dies and rolls, automatic roll adjustment technology is available.
• For cooling, not only air flow rate or retention time is important but ambient condition is most important.
• Grinding plays a vital role for smooth conditioning, pelleting and cooling.

The post Expert Tips for Making Feed Pelleting Process More Efficient & Profitable appeared first on Benison Media.

• Do not load high moisture (above 12.0%) grain to the silo.
• Silo should be facilitated with aeration system, and operate at least an hour every day.
• To prevent mold growth, mold inhibitors may be sprayed on the material during intake.
• Completely empty out the silo at least once in 3-4 months.
• No leakages / water seepage in the silo wall or foundation.

In the commodity market strategic stocking is required in the feed business? What should be the concept for strategic stocking?
BS: Increasing stock level ensures availability of materials and happy customers but holding inventories can be costly and reduces operational fund.

• Design a budget for your inventory to meet your availability service level.
• Create a minimum quantity level for inventories to produce different product to meet your customer demand.
• Measure the inventory’s usage & identify the factors that lead to over & understocking.
• Analyze individual SKU’s volatility & viability in storage.

Conclusions
Process optimization is one of the key aspects that every feed miller should practice and tune the process as close as possible to the requirement. Below are the take home message from this session:

• Trained labor in right quantity is the key. More labor or shortage of labor would affect the productivity of the feed plant.
• Transport equipment capacity should match with the key equipment capacity rather it should be more.
• Data collection and analysis would bring real results whether it is quality or any other parameter.
• Reduce your warehouse space, try to bring it to 50%.
• Grain cleaning is very important whether you store it in silo or bags.

Note: PART II of PROCESS OPTIMIZATION webinar is scheduled on 23rd July to register click here: https://bit.ly/3wBXOCA

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Indian broiler meat industry has been experiencing growth driven by increase in per capita consumption. Poultry, which includes broiler as well as egg sector, is one of the fastest growing segments of the agricultural sector in the country. While crops production has witnessed around 1.5% to 2% annual growth rate in the last decade, eggs and broilers segments have been rising at a rate of 7-10% annually.

The sustained growth in the broiler industry has been the result of technological breakthroughs in breeding, feeding and health, mostly driven by private sector investment. The broiler industry is witnessing growth because of adoption of the integration system which provides opportunities for the rural masses getting support in terms of assured remunerations.

The wet market, which has a major share in distribution and sales of broiler meat, has also witnessed a major shift as consumers are opting for home delivery. This new segment which focuses on ‘home delivery’ is expected to drive consumption of broilers in coming months and is expected to have a significant share of the consumption basket. The wet market now needs to invest on training of manpower as well as equipment to ensure that broiler meat is delivered taking into consideration hygienic and health aspects. One of the biggest segments which has witnessed growth in the last one year has been the ‘online models’ where consumers are ordering broiler meat and products for delivery at home, as a large segment of population are staying at home because of restrictions imposed to control COVID and companies opting for Work from Home (WFH) mode. Various players in the ‘online or home delivery’ segment are growing at significant pace as consumers’ preference for getting poultry meat delivered at home.

The commercial broiler industry is now following the ‘integrators model’ where there is contract with multiple smaller farmers who rear the chicks. The live birds are then lifted by the integrators, either for direct sales via wet markets or for slaughter and further processing. In the contract farming, rearing charge prices are pre-fixed to ensure that farmers are largely insulated from the fluctuations in the market demand. Due to challenges faced by the broiler industry since the beginning of last year, most of the losses incurred due to fluctuations in demand are absorbed by integrators thus helping farmers in tiding over the crisis.

With rising cost of labour, there is greater need for the farmers to adopt automation. Ensuring hygienic environment, adoption of food safety regulations etc. and sometimes non-remunerative prices for broiler meat is posing a challenge to the cost effectiveness. With the adoption of automation, feed wastage / shortage of labour and other inputs could be optimised and reduced. Use of Artificial Intelligence could help to address many challenges, reducing human interference and improve efficiency of poultry farming. The government must step in to provide support to the farmers. The Rs 15,000 crore Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund announced in June, 2020 by the government should be used for supporting farmers in automation also.

The rising feed costs because of higher rates of feed ingredients, mainly corn and soybean meal, prices are pushing up the cost of production of broilers and eggs. The government must ensure availability of feed raw material, either by discontinuing exports for a few months or allowing import of feed ingredients at zero percentage duty during shortage period so that broiler and egg production remains economically viable.

It is estimated that the poultry sector provides direct benefit to around 10 million maize and soybean growing farmers while around 50 million people are associated with poultry production value chain – trade, feed manufacturing, agriculture crops and logistics.

There is an urgent need for the farmers to follow stringent bio-safety norms. The poultry industry in association with government both at the centre and states should chart out and implement stringent bio-security protocols at the farm levels. Overall, the poultry industry is gearing up for meeting the future challenges through adoption of various measures in bio-safety and ensuring consumer confidence in broiler meat and eggs.

The livestock sector, especially poultry meat, eggs, fisheries & aquaculture, is contributing to the growth of agriculture and allied sectors in the country. For realizing the Government’s aim of doubling farmers’ income by 2022, livestock is playing a paramount role and the government must provide sustained support to the sector. For boosting farmers’ income, the government must provide financial as well as technological support to livestock in general and poultry industry in particular. This would boost the growth of Indian economy in the coming years.

by Ricky Thaper – Treasurer, Poultry Federation of India

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• Having a self-compassionate mindset, don’t let perceived judgments from others hold you back
• Be aware of micro aggressions and know how to react proactive or assertive way
• Stereotyping is natural but pay attention when you attach judgment to it, adopt a curiosity mindset instead
• Having a ‘YES I CAN’ attitude and recognizing that where you are today is not by chance
  Build your support structures and network
• Let go of perfection, embrace imperfections, and learn from them
• Embrace your authentic self – learn to be proud of your strengths and use them to move forward

Work-life balance – unattainable myth
All working women recognize that the perfect balance between work and home life is an unattainable myth. Instead, I believe we play multiple life roles that require more effort/time than others. One should not hesitate in seeking help from others at work and home environment to share the load. Also, I strongly believe in prioritizing the roles and decide how best to manage time across your various roles and responsibilities. It is essential to relax and take a break in the form of a hobby or holiday. I do it by writing, cooking or making sure I take enough time off to travel to new places, which is always a learning and rejuvenating experience.
Tips for women venturing into agribusiness
It is good to see more and more girls studying agriculture and veterinary sciences. For young women entering the agribusiness industry, my advice would be to invest in yourself – on communication skills, believe in yourself, and also keep learning (every day is Day1)– every industry constantly changes. It’s essential to always be on top of all the various trends. Don’t be afraid to take risks at work and ask for constructive feedback.
Also, to the women in the industry, it is our responsibility to make sure the next generation of women are educated, encouraged, and empowered to meet the challenges of meeting the world’s growing food, fuel, and fibre needs.
Organizations must align their business objectives to help develop women leaders, improve education and awareness, and increase the pipeline of female talent. Many organizations have diversity but not an inclusive workplace culture. Embracing inclusion and equity also makes good business sense. Studies have shown that gender-diverse teams have higher revenue compared with male-dominated teams.
75% of the women responding to the 2019 Women in Food and Agriculture Survey felt that a lack of mentor ship was a significant barrier to their career development. Networking is vital; curating meaningful relationships and adding value to them is crucial for career growth.
Agriculture is an industry that can thrive positively because of the community of like-minded people. Women around the world want and deserve equal opportunities for a brighter future. To achieve this, there should be women at every table where decisions are being made.
Finally, remember being able to carry many hats as daughter, sister, wife, manager, colleague, a mother is a strength!
This International Women’s Day, I encourage each one of you to #ChooseToChallenge – to commit to learning more about the role of women in the ag industry, to remove barriers, and to enable equitable workplaces, both on and off the farm, offices, production facilities for years to come.

About the author

Ms. Vinny Madhuri, currently working as Grower Digital Connect Manager – India, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka at Bayer Crop Science
Vinny has completed MBA in Agri Business Management and has over 11 years of experiecne with organisations such as Axis Bank and Alltech. In her last assignment she worked as Marketing Manager, Aqua & Social Media (South Asia ) for Alltech
Her twitter handle is @VinnyGandham

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