Hyderabad: India’s poultry industry, grappling with rising maize prices due to competition from ethanol production, has urged the government to allow the import of genetically modified (GM) maize and soymeal. Industry leaders also advocate for introducing high-yielding GM seeds to boost domestic maize production, reported The Hindubusiness Line.
Suresh Chitturi, Managing Director of Srinivasa Farms and Co-Chair of CII’s National Committee on Animal Husbandry and Dairy, underscored the need for a similar intervention as the Green Revolution that substantially increased the productivity of wheat and paddy through the introduction of high-yielding varieties. Speaking at a session on challenges and opportunities for the poultry industry during the CII’s three-day AgriTech South 2024, Chitturi emphasized the enormous potential within the poultry sector.
“The government should contemplate the import of GM maize for ethanol production. Simultaneously, efforts can be directed towards boosting maize production to reach 40 million tonnes, up from the current 30 million tonnes, thereby addressing the feed needs of the poultry industry,” suggested K G Anand, General Manager of Venkateshwara Hatcheries.
