Indian Council of Food and Agriculture (ICFA) organised the National Round Table conference on 14th December 2016 at India International Centre, New Delhi. The event was attended by policy makers, poultry professionals and animal healthcare industry. The objective was to address the various challenges faced by the poultry industry and deriving a way forward considering the increasing future demands.

The event had representation from Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries (DADF), ICAR, Poultry Federation of India, Agrinnovate India, INFAH and several animal healthcare and poultry companies.

The event observed key deliberations from Dr. S. K. Malhotra, Agriculture commissioner, GOI; Dr. M. J. Khan, Chairman, ICFA; Dr. O. P. Chaudhary, Joint Secretary, DADF; Dr. K. M. L. Pathak, Vice Chancellor, DUVASU, Mathura; Dr. R. S. Gandhi, Asst. DG, ICAR; Dr. Ramesh Chander, President, Poultry Federation of India; Mr. Ravinderjit Singh, Agrinnovate, India; Mr. Ashok Kumar, President, Karnataka Poultry Federation and many more.

INFAH was represented by Dr. P. G. Phalke, Dr. Vijay Makhija and Dr. Shirish Nigam. INFAH suggested following reforms for advancing the poultry industry towards future needs.

1. Need to shift the focus of government from food security to protein security and accordingly developing the communication and promotion plans.
2. Ensuring availability of talented manpower by strengthening the courses of poultry diplomas and degrees under the affiliation of Universities. Emphasised on annual need of more than 10,000 people for the industry.
3. Suggested to do away with the agriculture commodity mandi regulations and cess on agriculture commodity.
4. The poultry firms like feed mills, breeder farms, hatcheries and processing plants should be upgraded with latest technologies. Government can support by way of interest subvention or by offering grants.
5. Egg, chicken or any of its inputs have to be in Zero duty in GST.
6. Importation hurdles of feed additives should be resolved. INFAH suggested to explore the possibilities of digitalization
7. Import Duties on feed additives should be brought to the level of other APAC countires to make local poultry industry competitive
8. GOI should expand the scope of Eggs in Mid Day meal program
9. Formation of National Poultry Mission and involving all poultry stakeholders
10. GOI to leverage communication campaigns to create awareness on Poultry Protein similar to Jaago Grahak Jaago
11. Railway Tariff classification of maize & soya
12. Duty Free Imports of Grand Parent Birds
13. Reinstate 80JJ – IT Deduction in respect of Gain from Poultry Farming
14. Simplified FSSAI Compliances & Rules
15. Protection of Indian Poultry from influx of cheaper leg quarters from USA

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