BHUBANESWAR: The Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department has initiated proactive measures to increase egg production in the State keeping in view the rising demand and dependence on neighbouring Andhra Pradesh to meet the shortfall.
While Odisha had 66 layer farms with bird capacity of 40 lakh during 2012-13, the number has increased to 71 farms with layer bird capacity of 57 lakh in 2016, sources said.
Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Secretary Bishnupada Sethi said go ahead letters have been issued by different nodal officers for establishment of 45 units including expansion of existing ones which will enhance the layer capacity by nearly 20 lakh.
''Of the 45 projects sanctioned, four have been completed and rest are in execution stage,'' he said.
Expansion of existing layer farms and setting up of new poultry farms is expected to enhance the egg production in the State to 70 lakh eggs per day by 2018-19. Projects with additional capacity of 18 lakh layer birds are in execution stage and likely to be completed by 2018, Sethi added.