By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, October 10, 2015 : Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Resource Development Minister Pradip Maharathy on Friday said that the eastern India comprising of Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Chhatisgarh provides ample scope for development of poultry sector and egg production.

Speaking at a function to mark the 20th World Egg Day here Maharathy said these states produce as much as 13 per cent of total egg production in the country.

Odisha government has implemented State Poultry Policy -2015 with a view to providing scope for development of poultry. The State government is providing several incentives in this regard, the Minister said adding that promoters of poultry farms have been exempted from stamp duty on land purchased by them to set up farms.

Chief Secretary G C Pati who also spoke on the occasion said the poultry farmers should cooperate with maize cultivators as it forms an important ingredient for preparing fodder for the birds.

He said the poultry farmers should update themselves with new medicine to combat diseases that afflicts the birds, to use medicines/vaccines to prevent bird flu and rear different varieties of fowls.

The Department Secretary Bishnupad Sethi said the State is producing 70,000 Mt chicken meat and State Government has fixed a target of one lakh metric ton soon. Odisha is the first state in the country to initiate a Poultry Policy, Sethi said.

Joint Secretary Union Agriculture Ministry Dr P Blawar stressed the need to augment poultry production.
Maharathy on the occasion unveiled the Poultry Policy and Dairy Policy of State Government.

He felicitated Dr SS Rao, SS Das, Dr AG Rao, Dr Sarat Chandra Mohaptra,Dr Sarat Chandra Mishra, Dr Bhagabat Panda, Ranjit Ray and Madan Mohan Maiti, and several others for their contribution towards development of poultry.