US profits from India’s poultry processing industry

Indian consumers traditionally purchase live poultry as supermarkets/grocery stores were uncommon. However, the situation seems to be taking a turn.

“You are seeing more and more retail markets, similar to grocery stores in the US,” says USGC director of international operations Chris Corry. He believes that this shift is due mainly to a growing population, of which nearly two-thirds depend on agriculture for their livelihood.

Indian poultry farmers embracing commercial poultry production are realising a more profitable profession due in large part to the Council’s assistance with their consumer marketing efforts, according to Amit Sachdev, USGC consultant in India.

The Council’s efforts on behalf of the commercial poultry industry will become increasingly important to Indian poultry farmers as demand for poultry meat and eggs is expected to increase as India’s population grows.

As more and more consumers become aware of the safety and efficiency of commercial poultry processing, a relatively new concept to most Indian consumers, the poultry industry will grow substantially, thus needing more feed grains.

“India only produces roughly 600 mln bushels of corn annually, which is not enough to sustain a growing population, especially,” said Corry, adding that India will need to import feed ingredients “and we are working hard to ensure it will be from US producers,” he adds.

Sachdev agrees with Corry and said he is anticipating that the Council’s education efforts will pay off for US farmers, while also feeding a growing nation and reducing poverty within India’s agricultural sector.