India's Poultry Focuses on Home: Export Takes a Backseat
India's poultry sector prioritizes domestic consumption due to high production costs and a vast untapped local market, despite being a major global producer. Industry leaders cite high feed costs and lack of infrastructure for processing and export. Domestic demand for poultry remains strong despite low global competitiveness.
- Country:
- India
Focusing on domestic consumption over exports, India's poultry industry is shifting priorities as senior officials highlight high production costs and a significant untapped local market. Despite India ranking second in global egg production, its egg exports lag far behind at 25th or 26th place.
Former Union Ministry of Animal Husbandry secretary Tarun Sridhar commented, "Export is not an end in itself," questioning the need for exports when domestic markets offer better value. India ranks fourth or fifth in global meat production but has the lowest per capita consumption at merely 3 kg annually, lower than many developing nations.
The poultry industry cites cost disadvantages as a major barrier to export, with feed prices significantly higher domestically due to restrictions on genetically modified crops. This price gap, combined with insufficient infrastructure for processing and export standards, limits India's position in global markets.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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