Atchannaidu Details ₹657-Crore Package to Give AP Poultry Sector a Boost

Vijayawada:Andhra Pradesh agriculture and animal husbandry minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu underlined that the state government is taking steps to implement the AP Poultry Development Policy 2026–29.

The policy includes a ₹657-crore financial package aimed at strengthening the poultry sector, reducing production costs, promoting modern technology and improving income and employment opportunities for poultry farmers.

Atchannaidu provided details when representatives of the Poultry Association met the minister at his office in Vijayawada on Saturday to thank him for coming up with a detailed policy for the poultry sector.

The package includes ₹209 crore as food-processing incentives, ₹152.18 crore under the industrial component, and ₹296 crore for poultry development programmes to be implemented by the Animal Husbandry department.

The minister said the government will provide a four per cent interest subsidy on loans taken for developing infrastructure at poultry farms and hatcheries. ₹72 crore have been earmarked as subsidy for three years.

To reduce the electricity burden on poultry farmers, tariffs have been rationalised at ₹3.75 per unit for low-tension poultry farms and ₹4.75 per unit for feed-mixing units, Atchannaidu stated.

The policy extends a capital subsidy of 25 per cent, up to ₹25 lakh, for infrastructure required to newly established environment controlled (EC) poultry sheds. Existing poultry sheds can avail 25 per cent subsidy, up to ₹20 lakh, for modernisation.

Eligible EC poultry farms will also receive an interest subsidy on term loans besides, an electricity tariff subsidy of up to ₹2 per unit, subject to a maximum of ₹10 lakh annually for three years. Eligible projects under the National Livestock Mission will be entitled to a capital subsidy of up to 50 per cent, with a ceiling of ₹25 lakh.

As per the policy, the government will focus on backyard poultry to generate employment and additional income for rural women. As many as 2,720 mother poultry units will be established every year through women’s self-help groups. Women will receive 30–45 days of training, vaccination support, and day-old chicks through SERP and DRDA.

The government will establish egg and chicken processing units under the public-private partnership (PPP) model to add value to poultry products and improve marketing opportunities. Chicken processing plants will be developed at the major centres of Chittoor, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam.

The minister said the government has taken steps to exempt poultry shed construction in urban areas from existing development and betterment charges. Permissions for their construction will be issued at lower fees on par with those applicable in gram panchayats under municipalities and urban authorities.

Atchannaidu said rising maize prices are a major concern for the poultry industry. The government would hold discussions with the centre to make broken rice (nuka biyyam) available to poultry farms as an alternative feed ingredient and help reduce feed costs.

The minister asserted that the government, in coordination with poultry farmers, industry representatives, and departments concerned, would work to make Andhra Pradesh’s poultry sector one of the most advanced in the country.