Mangaluru: Poultry growers from Dakshina Kannada have urged the state govt to ensure that broiler companies implement the basic rearing wage of Rs 10/kg, stating that growers continue to face financial difficulties due to the dominance of integrated poultry companies.Speaking to reporters, Prabhakar S Suvarna, president of Dakshina Kannada Jilla Koli Belegarara Abivirdhi Okkuta, said poultry farming had already been recognised as an agricultural activity, but growers were yet to receive several benefits available to other farmers.He said around 25,000 poultry farmers in the state were engaged in poultry farming under the contract system, and alleged that farmers had been facing difficulties for several years due to the monopoly of integration companies. He alleged the state government had issued an order on May 25, directing companies to pay poultry farmers a minimum of Rs 10/kg, but private companies were yet to fully implement the order.He said poultry farmers’ organisations, including the Akhila Karnataka Rajya Koli Sakanike Raitara Kshemabvirdhi Sangha, Karnataka Rajya Koli Sakanikedarara Kshemaabvidrhi Sangha and Dakshina Kannada Jilla Koli Belegarara Abivirdhi Okkuta, would hold a meeting in Bengaluru on Aug 29, to press the govt to ensure implementation of the order.The govt should take immediate steps to ensure that poultry farmers receive the minimum wage and take action against companies that fail to comply, he said.He also demanded that poultry farming, which has already been recognised as an agricultural activity, be extended the same benefits available to other farmers.Suvarna said that the growers demands include free or subsidised electricity, loans of up to Rs 25 lakh at 3% interest through banks and cooperative societies for construction of poultry sheds, and easier access to institutional credit, insurance facilities for poultry sheds and birds, subsidies for machinery and equipment, and govt assistance on the lines of the support provided to dairy farmers.The growers further urged the govt to coordinate with integration companies and ensure protection of farmers’ interests, and sought directions to companies to supply quality chicks and poultry feed to farmers.
