Srinagar — The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK), in a joint meeting with the Kashmir Valley Poultry Farmers Association (KVPFA), has raised the alarm over what it described as the impending collapse of the poultry sector in Jammu and Kashmir. Calling it a statewide economic emergency, the federation has urged the government to intervene immediately to prevent large-scale losses to farmers, rural livelihoods, and food security.
Held at FCIK headquarters, the meeting was chaired by FCIK President Shahid Kamili and attended by key advisory committee members including Shakeel Qalander, M.D. Qureshi, and Mohammad Ashraf Mir. KVPFA was represented by its President Ghulam Mohammad Bhat and district-level delegates from across the Valley.
The poultry industry, once responsible for meeting over 85% of the region’s chicken demand, now covers only 20% following the abolition of the Lakhanpur toll post and related tax benefits. Stakeholders cited rising input costs, policy neglect, and unregulated imports as critical threats to the sector’s survival.
“The industry has been in a slow decline for over eight years,” said a KVPFA spokesperson. “With no consistent policy support or protection from market shocks, we are now staring at a full-blown social and economic crisis.”
Key challenges discussed during the session included:
- High operational and construction costs
- Shortage of grandparent and parent stock
- Inactive hatcheries and feed mills
- High poultry mortality during extreme weather
- Influx of low-cost frozen/dressed chicken from other states without proper quality checks
Participants also raised grave concerns about the public health implications of such imports, claiming the meat could be substandard or even sourced from diseased birds.
To counteract this, FCIK and KVPFA have demanded:
- A temporary ban on poultry imports until stringent quality inspection systems are put in place
- Reintroduction of Cess or Octroi on poultry imports to ensure market fairness
- An expert committee to audit the entire poultry value chain and propose a phased revival strategy
- Ground-level data collection to formulate sustainable policies and targeted incentives
“This is not just about poultry—it’s about protecting jobs, ensuring safe food, and reviving a key pillar of the rural economy,” Kamili emphasized.
FCIK’s call comes at a time of mounting concern within the local business ecosystem about unchecked imports and policy inaction. The Federation has committed to sustained engagement with the government until corrective measures are initiated.
Download Eggora Poultry App: https://www.eggora.com/download-app