The Decline of Kashmir’s Poultry Industry: A Concern for FCIK
In recent years, the Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has raised alarms about the gradual decline of the poultry industry in Kashmir. Once a sector that was close to achieving self-sufficiency, it is now facing challenges such as increased imports and a shrinking local market share.
Until 2014, Kashmir was able to meet 85% of its local chicken consumption through domestic production, thanks to strategic policy interventions. Measures such as toll taxes on imported poultry and the abolition of taxes on the import of one-day-old chicks helped local producers compete effectively while also contributing to the revenue of the exchequer.
However, the policy landscape changed after 2014, and the situation worsened with the implementation of GST in 2017, leading to the influx of outside poultry imports into the Valley. This shift left local producers struggling to compete with larger suppliers without adequate policy support, resulting in a significant decline in their market share.
Following the reorganization in 2019, concerns grew as dressed chicken from unverified sources entered the Valley, raising issues of hygiene and traceability. The intervention of the present administration helped address some of these concerns, but challenges remain.
FCIK believes that with sustained support and infrastructure development, Kashmir could have achieved full self-sufficiency in the poultry sector and even expanded into processing and exports. Instead, the sector has regressed into import dependence, impacting thousands of poultry farmers and related livelihoods.
The poultry ecosystem in Kashmir currently consists of over 7,000 producers spread across 10 districts, supporting various allied sectors such as feed supply, transport, veterinary services, and local trade.
While appreciating the recent budget emphasis on poultry development under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), FCIK emphasizes the need to prioritize the revival of stressed units within the sector.
The federation has put forth several demands, including the imposition of a cess on imported poultry, a ban on dressed chicken imports for public health reasons, insurance coverage for farmers, agricultural rate credit facilities, the establishment of local feed mills and hatcheries, and interest subvention to offset rising costs.
FCIK calls for a structured revival mission aimed at regaining market share, enhancing processing and cold-chain infrastructure, achieving economies of scale, and preparing the sector for export-grade production.
The federation warns that delaying corrective action could lead to the permanent loss of a strategically important agriculture sector that has the potential to generate rural employment and foster self-reliance.
