Urging the State Government to prevail upon broiler industries to revise the rearing rate and put in place other support mechanisms, poultry farmers are contemplating stoppage of production from January 1, 2026, if their demands are not addressed.
The rearing rates that have remained stagnant for the last four years have to be increased to ₹15 a kg for boiler chicken, ₹20 a kg for farm country chicken and ₹5 a bird for quail, the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Padhukappu Sangam, said in a petition addressed to the Chief Minister.
The livelihood of farmers who had established poultries in their own lands through tie-ups with large poultry companies is at stake as the venture is not viable after meeting the costs of electricity, feed, medication, labour, water and other maintenance expenses.
Poultry farmers are unable to pay the interest for the bank loans they had availed for establishing the farms.
The FCR (Feed Conversion Ratio) method must be done away with, and free power must be provided.
Tripartite talks between government, broiler chicken industries and poultry farmers must be conducted for revision of foster charges, the farmers association emphasised.
The other demands included formation of a welfare board for poultry farmers, revision of rearing rates on an annual basis, and giving effect to rearing rates within a week of being supplied with chicks.
Also, poultry industries must meet the cost of medicines, and the feed with adequate protein content must be supplied, the poultry farmers have emphasised.