Bhubaneswar, Oct 14: Today being observed as World Egg Day, the State government statistics show that the State is importing 33 lakh eggs against the daily need of 1 crore eggs. Even as the State Government claims to have taken steps to increase the egg production in Odisha, only 54 lakh eggs are being produced.
A target has been set by the government to increase the State’s egg production, to meet its own need by the year 2020.
Currently, there are 5172 broiler farms and 72 layer hen farms in Odisha. The government has introduced State Poultry Policy 2015 to increase the egg production. The Policy gives poultry farmers’ agriculture status.
As per the Policy, the State Government encourages the merchants to set up the new units through capital incentive subsidy available under Poultry Venture Capital Fund through NABARD and state agriculture policy-2013, exemption of the stamp duties on land purchase for poultry farming and subsidies of 40% and 50% for General and SC and ST categories entrepreneurs.
With the support of the State Animal Resources Department and the Orissa State Poultry Products Co-operative Marketing Federation Ltd (OPOLFED), the Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services is holding the World Egg Day today. The programme is most likely to be attended by over 100 veterinary doctors and over 50 poultry entrepreneurs.