The journey of the poultry in India started quietly in 1912, when the first mission farm was located in Etah, Uttar Pradesh, followed by the inaugural poultry exhibition of the country in Luckknow. This modest start led to the growth of what is now one of India’s most dynamic agricultural sectors. In the course of the decades, poultry-in particular Chicken and Eggs-To have come forward as an important pillar in the nutritional landscape of India, which offer a rare combination of affordability, cultural acceptance and availability throughout the year.
In a country where more than 70 percent of the population does not meet the recommended daily protein intake, poultry plays a crucial role in bridging the food gap. The biological and logistical benefits are considerable: chickens reach the market weight within six to eight weeks and their feed-to-moist conversion is one of the most efficient animal agriculture. With this low production footprint, poultry agriculture can thrive over scales-from industrial setups to backyard units-units and high-quality protein is more accessible to various populations.
Comparative cost efficiency
One of the main reasons why poultry is a leading protein source is the cost advantage. From May 2025, the meat costs of production production – £ 92/kg, including growth costs. Cost of table egg £ 4.75 ex-farm. The shrimp price of VanNaamei is £ 220 for 100 counts. Fresh pork can vary from £ 300 to £ 700 per kg, and buffalo meat costs around £ 200 to £ 250 per kg.
Affordability translates directly into higher protein access. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), an adult requires around 60 grams of protein every day. Chicken offers approximately 27 grams of proteins per 100 grams, which means that 220 grams of chicken can meet this requirement. Eggs that contain about six grams of proteins require approximately 10 eggs to meet daily needs. Similar protein quantities of fish or red meat would cost considerably more.
High -quality, accessible food
In addition to affordability, poultry also offers a high biological value. Chicken and eggs are rich in essential amino acids, vitamin B12, iron, zinc and selenium – nutrients crucial for muscle development, metabolic health and immunity. This makes them suitable for all age groups, from growing children to the elderly.
The poultry sector of India is also supported by scale. According to the 2024 Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics (Bahs), India is the second largest producer of eggs worldwide and is in fifth place in meat production, with more than 10 million tons of poultry meat and 140 billion eggs produced in 2023-24.1 This scale supports a resilient Supply Chain, warned of the availability of the availability of the availability of the availability of the availability, and even used to the steady chain, warned of the availability of the availability of the available Supply Chain, and even used to the availability of the available Supply Chain, and even used to the availability. Bands.
Cultural acceptability further strengthens the reach of poultry. In contrast to beef or pork, chicken and eggs are confronted with minimal dietary restrictions, making almost universal adoption in the varied communities of India.
Backyard Poultry: Small -scale for large impact
At the basic level, the impact of the poultry through the backyard agriculture becomes. With minimal infrastructure and low start -up costs, countryside households can increase poultry for both self -supply and additional income. Government initiatives such as the National Livestock Mission (NLM) and National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) have encouraged participation by distributing chicks, feeds and training.2.2
For example, the Mukhya Mantri Anyodaya Parivar Utthan Yojana, the Haryana The model improves both food and income chances in disadvantaged communities. These decentralized micro units also act as a livelihood. The integration of indigenous poultry axes and scientific agricultural methods further reinforces the resilience and productivity of poultry systems in the back garden.
Challenges and considerations
Despite its strengths, the poultry sector is opposed to headwind. The most important among them are the rising costs of feed – mainly corn – accompanied by the growing ethanol demand of India. The shift from the country to ethanol blending has reduced the availability of domestic corn, making India a net importer and burdening the producers of poultreas.
In addition, infrastructure restrictions hinder the storage and distribution of perishable poultry products. While India has more than 8,600 cold storage facilities, almost 75 percent are devoted to horticultural crops such as potatoes, leaving limited space for storing poultry products.3 This gap underlines the need for investments in infrastructure for cold chain to support the growth of the poultry sector.
Conclusion
Vogelvogel stands out as one of India’s most feasible answers to nutritional insecurity. The low costs, high nutritional value, scalability and cultural fit make it a cornerstone of the Indian protein economy. But to really unlock his potential, strategic investments in nutrition protection, rural infrastructure and cold chain logistics, are really essential. With the right policy support and industry innovation, poultry can continue to feed both bodies and resources throughout India.
The author is chairman, CLFMA of India
Published on 8 June 2025
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