SRINAGAR: The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has raised alarm over what it described as the steady decline of the Valley’s once self-reliant poultry sector, urging the government to introduce immediate policy measures to protect local producers from rising imports and restore competitiveness.
In a statement, FCIK said that until 2014, Kashmir met nearly 85 per cent of its chicken consumption through local production, calling it a significant example of import substitution and rural enterprise. The federation attributed this achievement to targeted government interventions, including the imposition of a toll tax on imported poultry and tax exemptions on the import of one-day-old chicks, which helped local farmers remain competitive while contributing to government revenue.
However, the body said the support framework weakened after 2014. With the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax in 2017 and the abolition of toll and entry taxes, markets were opened to large-scale imports from outside the region. This, it said, exposed local producers to unequal competition, resulting in a sharp decline in their market share.
According to FCIK, the situation worsened after the 2019 reorganisation, with dressed chicken from outside suppliers entering the Valley, often without clear sourcing or certification. The federation claimed that concerns were later raised about hygiene and traceability, prompting the administration to intervene and restrict the practice.
“Had policy support continued and infrastructure been strengthened, Kashmir could have achieved full self-sufficiency and even moved towards surplus production for processing and exports,” the statement said, adding that the sector instead slipped into dependence on external supplies.
FCIK said the poultry ecosystem currently includes over 7,000 producers across 10 districts, supporting rural livelihoods and allied activities such as feed supply, transport, veterinary services and local trade.
While welcoming the Chief Minister’s recent budget announcements on poultry development, including new farms, egg production initiatives and integration with the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme, the federation stressed that revival efforts must prioritise existing units facing financial and operational stress.
The body has demanded the imposition of a cess on imported poultry equivalent to the earlier toll or entry tax and a strict ban on dressed chicken imports to safeguard public health and local businesses. It also called for insurance cover for farmers, easier credit at agricultural rates, local feed mills and hatcheries, and interest subvention to offset rising production costs.
FCIK cautioned that without timely intervention, Kashmir risks losing a key allied agriculture sector that once demonstrated the potential for self-sufficiency and rural employment generation.
