Future of poultry in India bright : PAU scientists
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 27
With annual output of 37 billion eggs and 1000 million broilers, which yield 5.75 lakh tonnes of poultry meat, India is the fourth highest producer of eggs and eighth highest producer of broilers in the world.

The poultry sector accounts for about 2 per cent of the GDP of India and about 10 per cent of total GNP attributable to livestock. Poultry industry has made great progress after Independence. It has grown rapidly at the rate of 4-6 per cent in layers and 8-10 per cent in broilers in the past two decades, while the output of crops is going up at the rate of 1.5-2.0 per cent and is now a Rs 65 billion mega industry providing employment to 1.6 million people.

PAU scientists say the future is even brighter with a growing domestic market, rapid industrialisation and economic liberalisation. At present first four states, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab and Tamil Nadu account for more than 50 per cent of the total output of eggs and broilers in the country.

But this development is lopsided. Most of the poultry concentrations have shifted to urban areas where there are well organised markets like Delhi, Chandigarh and its sub-urban areas. Today 75-80 per cent of the eggs and poultry meat are consumed by just 25 per cent of the population in the urban areas. Presently, consumption of poultry eggs and meat in urban areas is 100 eggs and 1.2 kg poultry meat per person per annum, whereas, in rural areas the respective consumption values are 15 eggs and 0.15 kg of poultry meat. The National Institute of Nutrition recommends 180 eggs and 11 kg of poultry meat. Encouraging the production of poultry in rural areas could cover this wide gap, they added.

Backyard poultry may encourage small farmers to produce poultry for local consumption. Since the commercial hatcheries may not cater to their small demands and moreover, the exotic stock with them are not particularly suited to the managemental conditions with the small growers, so stocks which are more hardy and resistant, should be further developed and supplied at reasonable rates. Public sector undertakings should develop these stocks and meet the demand of such farmers.

China, which is the highest egg producing and second highest chicken meat producing country in the world, most of its poultry is in the form of backyard poultry or in unorganised sector and this poultry sector is not over-dependent upon the imported germplasm unlike India.

The National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC) has more or less rationalised sale of eggs in the country, but it is possible in broilers so far. There are some lean periods followed by glut in the market leading to high fluctuations in the rates of broilers. It is perceived that increase of 5 per cent production leads to 25 per cent decrease in prices and vice-versa. So whenever,there is excess production in states like, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, the Punjab farmers have to sell their broilers at throwaway prices leading to heavy losses.

BROMARK- All India Broiler Farmers Marketing Cooperative whose concept is modelled on NECC, has evoked good response in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra and has recently spread its operations in Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana. There is also a need to undertake a sustained promotional campaign to widen the consumer base in the Gulf markets and increase the volume of exports significantly.

Varsity’s role in agricultural research lauded
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 27
During his visit to PAU Kisan Mela, Mr M.A. Khan, Editor of the agricultural magazine “Agriculture Today” said Punjab Agriculrural University has played an important role nor only in the field of agricultural research, extension and teaching but has rejuvenated the whole structure of agriculture in India.

He said the agricultural universities, rural development agencies and self service organisations should play an important role in the development of the country. The farmers should adopt the low cost machinery instead of purchasing the machinery of higher value in order to avoid the wastage of money, he added.

Praising Dr Kirpal Singh Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor of the PAU, Mr Khan said under the able guidance of Dr Aulakh, the PAU has got an unparalleled recognition of nation as well as international level.

Singla to open kisan mela

Mr Surinder Singla, Finance Minister, Punjab, will inaugurate Kisan Mela to be held at Regional Research Centre, Bathinda, on September 28. Giving this information, Dr Amrik Singh Sandhu, Director of the Extension Education said Dr Kirpal Singh Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor of the PAU would preside over the inaugural function. Dr Sandhu said Mr Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Secretary, Agriculture and Co-operation, will inaugurate the Regional Kisan Mela to be held on September 30, at Gurdaspur while Dr K.S. Aulakh will preside over the function.

Training programme

A one-day NATP training programme on wheat milling and product manufacture, organised by the Department of Food Science and Technology, PAU, in collaboration with the Department of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology, PAMETI, SISI and CIPHET, Ludhiana, concluded here yesterday. Dr G.S. Chahal, ADR (A), presided over the function. Dr G.S. Padda, Head, Department of Food Science and Technology, welcomed the guests and the participants. Dr A.K. Bakhshi, project co-ordinator in his introductory remarks highlighted that milling of wheat into flour.

Dr G.S. Chahal highlighted the importance of such training to develop value added food processing industry in the state. Around 40 participants from industries, institutions and potential entrepreneurs attended the programme.

Science exhibition organised 
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 27
A project of the Rashtriya Vigyan Evam Prodyogiki Sanchar Parish DST, Government of India, New Delhi started today in Sanatan Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary here today.

Schools from urban and rural ares of West Zone participated at Senior Secondary, Secondary and Elementary level competition. The theme of this exhibition is recent Trends in Science and Technology. On the first day, quiz and chart making competition at Junior and Senior level were held.

Students of Government-Aided, Unaided, Private and Public schools took part in these competition.

Themes for quiz were water and cleanliness, health and nutrition, conservation of soil, management of environment and biotic diversity, facing natural disasters.

They said teaching aids make the teaching interesting and perfect. Science is a subject that needs practical demonstration along with theoretical information.

Play on scientific awareness was also staged by different schools on scientific awareness.

Principal, Mrs Sadhna Sharma, President, Rajesh Kashyap and Manager C.L. Sachdeva of SVM Senior Secondary School were also present. The exhibition will continue till tomorrow with model making competition and prize distribution function.

Student organisations to intensify stir
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 27
The various student organisations have decided to intensify their struggle to prevail upon the state government to rethink over bus passes for the students.

In a written statement issued here yesterday, Mr Gurpreet Singh, member of the state committee of the Punjab Students Union (Shaheed Randhawa) said that the union, in association with other organisations would organise dharnas at different district headquarters on September 28 to press their demands.

He also criticised the state government’s anti students policies. He citied the examples of handing over management of schools to the panchayats in the villages, restoring methods to close down the government colleges, opening of ways to take over the state transport by the private transporters.

He warned the authorities of their struggle till the government does accepted their demands.

COURTS

Gas agency owner sentenced
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, September 27
The owner of a gas agency and practising lawyer landed in jail for allegedly for making a wrong statement to get the benefit of probation and acquittal. He reportedly misled a court of law regarding the birth of his child.

Mr Jai Pal Singh, a practising lawyer (owner of a gas agency at local town) was convicted by the Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate Sunam under Section 193 of the IPC on March 14, 2001.

He was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for three years and to pay a fine of Rs 2000.

The accused then stated in the court that his wife had died after giving birth to a son at a private hospital at Ludhiana. As there was nobody else to look after his 3-4 months old son he sought an opportunity to join the main stream in the society.

Keeping in view the statement made by the lawyer the magistrate ordered him to be released on probation for a period of one year.

Thereafter cognizance of the offence to make wrong statement was taken by the court of Mr Vivek Puri, then Judicial Magistrate Sunam who on the complaint Mr. Bihla Singh convicted the accused under Section 193 of IPC.

The examination of witnesses had proved that his wife had died after delivering a male baby on July 26, 1996.

The accused had approached the court of Additional Sessions Judge (Ad hoc) Fast Track Court at Sangrur with an appeal to revert the judgment. The complainant on the other hand had filed a revision petition for enhancement of the sentence.

The judge dismissed both the appeal and revision and ordered that, ‘the accused be taken into custody for substantive sentence awarded to him by the trial court.’