United for Change: Poultry Farmers Demand Government Action to Boost Rearing Rates Through Tripartite Talks with Broiler Companies!
The Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Protection Association is advocating for a vital transformation in the poultry farming sector by calling on the state government to initiate tripartite discussions. These talks would involve representatives from poultry farmers’ associations and the Broiler Coordination Committee, which represents poultry companies. The primary aim is to establish new wage rates for the foster care of chickens.
The association is demanding a minimum rearing rate of ₹15 per kg for broiler chickens and ₹20 per kg for farm-raised country chickens, along with ₹5 per bird for quails. They argue that poultry companies have long provided a minimal cultivation amount of ₹6.50 per kg, failing to adapt to the significant increases in costs for electricity and other essential inputs over the years.
Despite state government assurances for yearly wage rate increases based on discussions with farmers’ associations, the last directive was not implemented since 2013, according to the association. M. Mahalingam, the State Coordinator for the association’s poultry farmers’ wing, emphasized the need for urgent reform, including the scrapping of the Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) metric that evaluates how efficiently birds convert feed into weight.
The association is also advocating for the establishment of a dedicated welfare board for poultry farm workers. They demand that poultry companies must ensure a reliable supply of six batches of chicks to the farms each year for foster care. Additionally, the companies’ insistence that farms source vaccines from specified firms has drawn criticism. The association insists that companies should cover the costs associated with medications and eye drops for vaccinations, and that administrative expenses should not be added to the overall production costs.
Mahalingam further stated that chickens must not weigh less than 40 grams at market time, and emphasized the necessity for certified feed to be provided to farmers. Instead of compelling farmers to procure feed from rival suppliers, he suggested that companies should take back existing feed and restore it with enhanced nutritional value.
Many poultry farmers are struggling to meet even their bank loan interest payments, underscoring the financial strain in the sector. Mahalingam has urged poultry companies to take on some of the expenses related to essential inputs, such as coir pith and charcoal.
To galvanize support for these demands, the association has organized a consultative meeting for poultry farmers, scheduled to take place on July 15 in Batlagundu, located in Dindigul district. This gathering aims to unite poultry farmers under a common banner to discuss the ongoing challenges and to present a united front in negotiations with poultry companies.
As the situation develops, the Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Protection Association hopes that their mobilization efforts will lead to much-needed improvements in the poultry industry, addressing the financial concerns of farmers and ensuring fair compensation for their labor.
Published – July 10, 2025, 09:04 PM IST
Coimbatore
Tags: Tamil Nadu farmers, poultry industry, wage rates, farmer advocacy, business negotiations, poultry welfare
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/poultry-farmers-urge-government-to-hold-tripartite-talks-involving-broiler-companies-to-raise-rearing-rates/article69797081.ece
Category : Coimbatore
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Publish Date: 2025-07-10 21:04:00
