"There has been a 15 per cent growth in poultry farming in Haryana this year. However, there is a need for overall guidance in flock management, nutrition and disease prevention control which unfortunately is lacking and is making the business less profitable," says Dr Jhas, a senior officer at the Department of Animal Husbandry, Haryana.

Says S K Khanna, Department of Poultry Farming, Ambala, "There are over 45 lakh layers in the area with a total strength of 300 poultry farms. Of these more than 100 farms are situated around village Barwala, 25 km from Ambala, with a population of more than 23 lakh birds. According to a survey, Barwala is ranked third as per the density of layer population in poultry farming.

For many years, undivided Punjab was a leading eggproduction region. Various factors contributed first to a slow-down in growth, then to a decline in output. During militancy Chandigarh emerged as an important egg production centre. Later Barwala found favour because land price was much less and the area was close to Panchkula and Chandigarh. Also poultry is a free enterprise in which no licence is required.

"Most of those who migrated had been owners of brick kilns, rice shellers, cloth merchants and contractors in Punjab. Once they set up modern farms in Barwala, suppliers came in large numbers," says Mukesh Goyal who started his poultry farm in 1994.

"The price of land increased immediately by 100 per cent." Goyal had to spend Rs 5 lakh per acre. Today his farm has about 30,000 birds. Goyal didn't have a smooth start. In the first year, in a flock of 5,000 pullets, he suffered a mortality of 10 per cent at 65 days of flock age. "With ups and downs in poultry business, people get nervous. If one year is bad, the next could be the best," points outGoel.

The day-to-day management of farms is controlled by owners themselves and most of them are young, educated entrepreneurs with money to invest. This is the reason poultry farms of this region are flourishing. Says Capt Prem Nanda, who started his Regent Farms at village Jandli in 1980 with 1,500 birds, "The cost of production has gone up by about 25 per cent this year as compared to the last year but the sale price has not increased in the ratio thus reducing the margin."

"Soyameal prices have also increased so we have cut out soya from the feed. Fish meal is of poor quality so it is not used. We have to act practically in the business," adds Nanda. Nanda notes that though last year they did good business, the major problem facing poultry farmers in the area is one of marketing the product and loss due to disease afflicting birds. He regrets that there is no support from the state government for this business and no check on the rate and quality of feed available in the local market." According toNanda, who is also zonal chairman of National Egg Co-ordination Committee, the reason for the slide is paucity of funds among poultry farmers and the unhelpful attitude of the state government. "Most of the poultry farmers here depend on bank financing and have to pay a lot towards bank interest." says Nanda. On the other hand, poultry farmers of Barwala have invested their own money and are earning profits.

Nanda suggests the need for a government test centre to check the quality of feed. "We are dependent on other states for sales as the consumption of eggs is very small in Haryana as most communities residing in this state are pure vegetarians."

The consumption of eggs in India is hardly 30-32 eggs per capita per year compared to 225 in China. Israel has the largest consumption of eggs with about 400 eggs per capita per year.

Ashok Sahni, the founder-member of Bharat Egg Producers' Association of India, started his National Farms at village Nasirpur in 1979 with merely 700 birds. "In our country,eggs are considered a non-vegetarian meal. But this is not always true. Eggs are produced with the help of light genetic system. Female birds have no contact with male birds. The genetic system has changed scientifically to produce non-germ non-sperm eggs," says Sahni suggesting that this business should be brought under agriculture and exempted from income-tax. Although poultry farming is said to be agriculture-based it is deprived of all the facilities being offered to agriculturist by the state government. Notes Sahni: "The business is being ignored by the state and production of eggs in our country is much higher than consumption."

Poultry can become a booming business in the country if consumer-producer relationships are maintained. "The egg we sell to a wholesaler at the rate of 93 paise each costs the consumer Rs 15-18 per dozen," says Sahni suggesting that a poultry board should be formed in the country to help boost sales and introduce a strong infrastructure for exporting eggs to neighbouringcountries.

"We are unable to compete in the export market due to poor infrastructure. Even in the domestic market business in not properly organised with only a few hands controlling it. This is the reason that egg powder manufacturing projects set up in our country have flopped as their production could not match with international standards resulting in heavy losses to manufacturers."

Adds S L Garg of Shivalik Poultries, "The production costs have gone up and the profits are declining. The feed cost is up by about Rs 1,000 per tonne compared to last year. Egg trays are also becoming more expensive. Expenses on medicines, vaccines have gone up, so even at Rs 110 per 100 eggs, we are just about breaking even."

Garg shifted operations from Barnala to Barwala because of militancy. At present, Shivalik has 1,10,000 layers besides 20,000 chicks and 20,000 growers. In all, there are seven lakh birds in all the farms.

Garg is not satisfied with the power situation. "We have our own diesel generating sets torun foggers and fans because summer temperatures in this area go up to as high as 44 degrees," adds Garg. Most of the farmers make their own feed although there are several feed dealers.