The Broiler Coordination Committee is working with the Agriculture department to promote maize cultivation in the State.
Committee president R. Lakshmanan says besides the traditional maize growing areas of Palladam and Udumalpet, committee officials went to new areas where maize was not raised and encouraged farmers to grow it.
The State needs about 15 lakh tonnes of maize a year for poultry feed. Tamil Nadu production went up from two-three lakh tonnes to six-seven lakh tonnes.
The rest was procured from Karnataka. Though this was the new maize season, the landing price was Rs. 770 a quintal.
Citing reports, Mr. Lakhsmanan said corn exports from the United States, the main exporter, was not substantial this year. And, exports from India to Sri Lanka and Indonesia were said to have gone up.
Therefore, the domestic prices up, and the poultry sector sought a ban on maize exports. "In May-June, the prices are expected to touch Rs. 1,000 a quintal."
The poultry sector was encouraging farmers to cultivate maize and assured them at least Rs. 600 a quintal.
With better prices, area under maize was expected to go up next year and bring down the prices. However, the current prices were high, and this might ultimately reflect in the final price of the broiler.
The farm gate price of broiler was Rs. 25 a kg. This was because of a slump in consumption owing to the Sabarimala season. Consumption would pick up next month with Christmas, he said.
