The Kashmir Valley Poultry Farmers Association has issued an urgent SOS to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, warning that Jammu & Kashmir’s poultry sector is facing an unprecedented crisis that threatens the livelihoods of over 5.5 lakh people, public health, and the region’s once self-reliant food supply chain.
In a memorandum to the CM, the association revealed that local poultry production—which once fulfilled 80–85% of J&K’s demand—has now plummeted to just 15–20%, primarily due to policy lapses, regulatory dismantling, and unchecked imports of outdated, low-grade poultry products from outside the Union Territory.
Farmers allege that these imports often consist of aged layer birds—meat unfit for human consumption—shipped over long distances without proper cold chain facilities, hygiene checks, or FSSAI certification. Without labeling, source verification, or expiry information, they warn, consumers are unknowingly exposed to food poisoning, antibiotic resistance, and zoonotic diseases.
Key Concerns Raised
- Policy change fallout: The removal of the Rs. 9/kg Lakhanpur toll tax has removed a crucial protective barrier, enabling a flood of cheap, mass-produced poultry to undercut local farmers.
- Environmental hazards: Long-distance poultry transport increases carbon emissions, packaging waste, and biohazard risks.
- Financial strain: Many local farms, established with bank loans under government schemes, are now struggling to survive due to price undercutting.
Farmers’ Demands
The association has urged the government to:
- Ban outdated/unhygienic dressed chicken imports into J&K.
- Enforce mandatory FSSAI certification, hygiene inspections, and cold chain compliance for all incoming poultry.
- Form a UT-level task force of government and industry representatives to monitor poultry imports.
- Introduce an Environmental & Bio-Security Cess—similar to the abolished Lakhanpur toll—to level the playing field for local producers.
- Launch a special relief package with loan moratoriums, restructuring, and interest subsidies.
The memorandum also opposes land allotments to outside integrators, urging the government to first revive the local sector. “If outsiders are to be encouraged, then the government should take over the assets of J&K poultry farms, clear their loans, and provide jobs to displaced workers,” the statement said.
Association president Ghulam Muhammad Bhat stressed that J&K could become fully self-reliant in poultry production with government-backed land, hatcheries, feed mills, processing plants, and market support, creating large-scale employment for local youth.
“The poultry sector stands at a critical juncture. Delay will not only destroy livelihoods but also compromise public health. The time to act is now,” the memorandum warns.
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