COIMBATORE: It may be a case of ‘chickens coming home to roost’ for the broiler companies in Tamil Nadu as farmers, who rear chickens on contractual basis for these companies, have decided to go on a strike from January 1 over “low chicken-rearing rates” offered by these firms. According to sources, if the strike takes effect as planned, consumers, too, may feel the pinch of higher chicken prices in the New Year.
According to sources, up to 95% of broiler rearing in TN is handled by these farmers, and broiler companies handle the remaining 5% in-house. The rate offered by broiler companies has been stuck at 6.5 kg for nearly five years and it must be revised to a minimum of Rs 20/ kg, say farmers.
The decision to halt production was taken at a consultative meeting at Annur in Coimbatore on Sunday. “We will go ahead with our decision, unless the state government calls for a tripartite – broiler companies, breeders, and officials of the animal husbandry department – meeting to resolve the issue,” the breeders said.
Over 10 lakh chickens (20-23 lakh kg) come out from farms in a week across the state. A minimum of 3 lakh kg chicken is required for daily consumption in TN. The requirement goes up to 4 lakh kg on Sundays. Broiler companies cannot hold young chickens (those coming out of eggs) for more than 12 hours.
As a result, the likely production halt will create immediate impact on broiler companies. At consumer-end, the impact may be realised after a week, sources said. Requirements of chicken meat can be managed till January third week with the present stock, if the poultry farmers go on strike from January 1, sources added.
According to farmers, more than 40,000 poultry units for rearing broilers are being operated by them across the state. Of this, over 10,000 are situated in Coimbatore, Tiruppur and Erode. Young chickens are handed over to farmers by the broiler companies (over 60 firms) to rear them. The broiler companies provide feed and medicine.
Farmers have to install a structure in their land to rear the chicken. The expenses for electricity and coir used for shelter are to be borne by the farmers. After 35-40 days, broiler companies take away the chicken, weigh them and make the payment.
A B T M Mahalingam, state coordinator of Broiler Chicken Rearing Farmers Association, said, “The broiler companies have not revised the rate for breeders, but have increased the chicken price close to Rs 200 per kg. We had informed in September that we would go for production halt from January, if the demand is not met. For halting the production, we are organising a consultative meeting with farmers. We have decided to stop getting young chickens from the broiler companies.”