The Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) submitted a set of recommendations to pull the sector out of decline due to lockdown in the country and urged the government to delay all installments and payment of the mark up on bank loans obtained by its members for one year.

It has also proposed that bank loans against poultry sector may be rescheduled and the government may pay the mark up costs of loans for two years to bank to help this sector sustain and remain in the business.

These demands were raised during a video-link meeting held between the Secretary Livestock and Dairy Development Department (L&DDD) Punjab Nadeem Irshad Kiyani and members of the PPA represented by its chairman Dr. Muhammad Aslam and Vice Chairman PPA (NR) Chaudhry Muhammad Fargham, and various others.

The PPA also demanded that short-term loans taken by its members may be converted into long-term loans and small poultry farmers should be provided interest-free loans for two years. They also demanded Rs 500 per feed bag subsidy by the government to help the small farmers. Besides, the Association also demanded that small farmers should be given a subsidy on rent of their sheds as 40 percent of these sheds are on rent.

They claimed that this would help the farmers to continue poultry production activity which is at present facing a grim situation.

They also demanded that the government should arrange salary of the poultry staff as farmers are not able to pay and another subsidy be given to the farmers so they could place the chicks at farms to continue their business. The Association had alleged that farmers are not in a position to place new chicks due to closure of the business or short time to poultry and chicken meat shops which has caused a 30 percent decline in consumption.

They also demanded to defer the electricity bills for 3-6 months and release containers of this sector held at dry port/ports without any demurrages. They also demanded a ban on construction of new farms for five years.

The PPA office-bearers also assured that there would be no short supply of chicken meat and eggs if the government continuously keeps on supporting the industry.