PPA demands immediate ban on export of maize

LAHORE - Chairman, Pakistan Poultry Association Abdul Basit asked for imposition of immediate ban on export of maize owing the fear that the poultry feed prices will push the cost of production of chicken and eggs upwards.

Addressing a press conference here Monday he emphasized that if immediate ban is not imposed upon the export of maize, prices of maize would increase substantially, consequently, prices of poultry feed will also rise pushing upwards the cost of production of chicken and eggs.

'Imminent closure of many poultry farms will result in high prices of chicken meat and eggs, resultantly the price of mutton, beef and pulses will rise to unprecedented level; he said.

Basit said that to save the people of Pakistan poultry sector from this imminent disaster, government of was requested to please immediately impose a complete ban on the export of maize from Pakistan. 'We implead the government to play its expected role in keeping poultry sector in viable state, so that high quality cheap protein food source remains available to the common people at affordable price' he said.

Mr. Abdul Basit further said that Pakistan Poultry Association is fully abreast of current maize situation and wholeheartedly condemn the hoarders of maize who by their nefarious activities are maliciously shifting the blame upon to the poultry sector.

He said the poultry sector is one of the most organized branches of the agro-based sectors of Pakistan. Poultry at present contributes 40 percent of the total meat consumption and generates employment and income for about 1500,000 people.

Poultry is the cheapest available meat protein source for our masses and as such, is an effective check upon the spiraling animal protein prices also. Unfortunately Poultry Sector of Pakistan has suffered heavy losses due to scare of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) since 2006 onwards. Due to the disaster in poultry sector about 40% farms have been closed down. It is dire need to rehabilitate the farmers immediately to revive the poultry sector.

Chairman said that during the current year the productions in the poultry sector suffered a major set back due to shortage and non availability of grains. The direct impact has been that the prices of the poultry feed have risen by about 83% with the resulting effect that the prices of chicken meat has gone up considerably. 60% of the ingredients of the poultry feed are grains and of this major portion is that of corn.

Basit said that total yearly feed production is 5.51m Tons.

According to the Federal Bureau of statistics, production of maize in Pakistan is 3.08m tons, against Pakistan's annual requirement of 4.28m tons, leaving a shortfall of 28%. Pakistan's poultry feed millers with a requirement of 3.3m tons annually are single largest consumers of maize for the production of 5.51m tons of poultry feed required to feed approximately 8m broiler breeders, 0.428m layer breeders 800m commercial broiler and 29m layer birds.

During March/April 2008, when maize was in very short supply, its price shoots up to Rs 22,500.00 per ton. After the arrival of the new crop its price still remains very high at Rs. 18,000.00 per ton.

Abdul Basit told the press that poultry sector is a permanent in-house consumer of maize for many years. If poultry sector can not keep its present size and future growth the growers of maize will be facing a very difficult situation of marketing their product as the international market is not reliable at all times. If the prices of feed ingredients become equal or higher than  international prices it will result into high cost of production causing chicken meat prices to go as high as in other countries.