The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Despite ban on maize export, price remains high

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Tamil Nadu

Despite ban on maize export, price remains high

Special Correspondent

NECC wanted the Centre to extend the ban to further one year

Namakkal: Despite the ban on maize export, the essential ingredient of the poultry feed, its price remains high in domestic market.

The Government of India banned the export of maize till October 15, 2008 with a view to ensure its adequate availability to rein in the spiralling cost. Following the ban, maize price came down by Rs.100 in certain markets for a couple of days and in Andhra Pradesh for about a week. But the farmers, however, have noticed that the price of maize has started going up by Rs. 1,000 a tonne in North India and in the rest of country at Rs. 1,300.

At the same time, the price of soya meal, another feed ingredient, has also gone up from Rs. 7,000 to 8,000 a tonne last year to Rs.24,500. The poultry industry feels that the sudden spurt in the prices is due to hoarding by exporters and big traders hoping that the present ban would be lifted by October 15.

During the past two years, there has been an unprecedented increase in the price of maize and soya meal. Due to steep increases, the break-even level for egg production has gone up from ninety paise to Re. 1 last year to Rs. 2.25 an egg. The break-even level for broiler production has also gone up from Rs .27-28 to Rs.47-48 a kg. With no corresponding increase in farm-gate prices, many small farmers and a few large broiler integrators particularly in Coimbatore have suffered enormous losses.

Already 15 per cent of the industry, comprising mainly of small farmers, has closed down.

Hence, the National Egg Co-ordination Committee, (NECC), Namakkal, has urged the Government of India to extend the October 15 ban on export of maize to further one year.

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