Balangir District Poultry (Broiler) Farmers Association president Prasanta Satpathy expressed concern over unauthorized entry of outside traders in the district.
There are 70 poultry (broiler) farmers in the district whose capacity varies between 1,000 and 10,000 birds per day and the district produces around 13,000 birds daily, said Satpathy. But he said that since the outside traders are selling chicks at much lower prices, the local farmers are incurring heavy losses.
A poultry farmer usually purchases chicks and sells it after two months for consumption. Earlier, we were purchasing chick at Rs 24 per kg and after feeding for two months, we sold it at Rs 60. But in an unexpected development, big poultry firms have entered into the district and are offering chicks and other facility to the farmers to woo them. At times, these firms are creating artificial shortage of chicks and selling them at higher prices, which affect the local farmers here.
Moreover, some traders are selling chicks bringing from Chhatisgarh and selling here to the detriment of the local farmers, said Satpathy.
"We urge the district administration to take proper steps to check the unauthorized trade by big agencies here and check import from the neighbouring State to protect the interest of local poultry farmers," said Satpathy.