95 per cent hike in egg prices in 2012-13: Pawar

He also said the government has not imposed ban on export of poultry items after the outbreak of recent Avian Influenza.

NAMAKKAL 12/02/2010: The ethnoveterinary center would ensure better demand for Namakkal chicken and poultry products in the international market. Photo: E_Lakshmi Narayanan

Chicken and egg prices rose by upto 95 per cent in different areas on higher feed cost in 2012-13 fiscal, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said.

“Average prices of chicken in different stations during 2012-13 have shown increase, ranging from 3.8 per cent to 95.5 per cent compared to 2011-12,” Mr Pawar said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

One of the major reasons for increase in prices of poultry products is rise in the price of poultry feed and feed ingredients like soyameal and maize, Mr Pawar said.

The Minister also said the government has not imposed ban on export of poultry items after the outbreak of recent Avian Influenza.

To curb prices of these items, the government had allowed duty-free import of oil cakes, used as animal feed, till March 31. Import duty on maize bran has been waived from September 2012, he added.