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www.benisonmedia.com  INDUSTRY THOUGHT   Think Grain Think Feed - Volume 11 | Issue 9 | July 2025  Upcoming Trends:   Strategic   Agriculture  www.benisonmedia.com

         Think Grain Think Feed - Volume 11 | Issue 9 | July 2025

 A Transforming Poultry
        Opportunities and Warning  Recommendations
                                                            The Maharashtra Assembly
        Signs
 Industry at a Crossroads:
                                                            has declared poultry under
                                     Maintain market weight
                                  ·
                                                            the official notification
                                    consumer resistance and
        Boom
 Maharashtra's Evolving Landscape  Retail and Infrastructure   ·  at 2–2.25 kg to avoid   the agriculture sector, but
                                    oversupply.
                                                            remains pending. Once
        What began with hygiene-
                                                            notified, the sector can
                                     Fortnightly data-driven
        centric stores in Pune and
        Mumbai is now a statewide   coordination among      expect:
 By Uddhav Ahire, Anand Agro        major integrators to
        phenomenon. Most districts                          ·   Access to agri-loans at
 20–25% of poultry operations ran as   regulate production.
        now boast poultry hygiene                             subsidized interest rates.
 open houses, today over 95% have
        retail, reflecting both supply   ·   Encourage consumer   ·   Exemption from pollution
 moved under integration models. The
        chain maturity and consumer   awareness regarding     certification norms.
 vertical integration approach has
        demand. Additionally, the   meat quality and        ·   Reduction in Gram
 enhanced efficiencies but also created   production sustainability.
        spread of cloud kitchens and                          Panchayat taxes.
 structural dependency, requiring more
        delivery platforms into rural   Green Energy Initiatives:   ·   Inclusion in solar pump
 data-driven collaboration among large
        areas is reshaping        Powering Sustainability     subsidy programs.
 integrators.
        consumption patterns and   Poultry farms are
 2. Rise of EC Houses  logistics models.  increasingly embracing   However, clarity is needed on
                                                            loan thresholds and
 Environment-Controlled (EC) houses   Rural-Urban Divide   renewable energy, with
                                                            classification (weekly vs.
 now account for approximately 20% of   Narrows  biogas-based electricity   monthly capacities) before
 the total production capacity. This shift   Traditional consumption   projects showing promising   banks and departments can
 marks a move towards better   habits are shifting. The   returns.  implement the benefits
 biosecurity, improved bird   urban-rural divide is   Case in Point  effectively.
 performance, and controlled   shrinking rapidly, with rural   At Anand Agro, we are
                                                            Conclusion: A Shared
 environments, critical for year-round   consumption increasing   producing 4,000 units of   Future Requires Shared
 Uddhav Ahire  production consistency.  significantly. Lifestyle   electricity daily by using   Responsibility
 3. Robust Growth Trajectory  changes and better road   manure of 1.2 lakh birds. The   Maharashtra's poultry sector
 Maharashtra's poultry sector is   infrastructure are critical   model:
 Maharashtra's poultry industry has                         stands at a pivotal point.
 undergoing one of the most   enablers of this transition.  ·   Reduces dependence on
 shown a strong annual growth of                            Growth must now be
 significant transformations in its   Industry Consolidation on   grid power.
 7–8% (excluding COVID-impacted                             tempered with responsibility.
 history. Over the past five years, the   the Horizon  ·   Cuts disease risk through
 years), with monthly chick placements                      Large integrators, who
 industry has evolved from a scattered,   better waste
 increasing from 3.5–4 crore to 6–6.5   With 10 integrators   dominate the market, must:
 semi-formal network of open houses   controlling nearly 70% of the   management.
 crore. The numbers speak of an                             ·   Invest in data
 into a more integrated, technology-  market, we are likely to   ·   Provides free slurry to
 industry expanding its capacity and                          transparency.
 driven, and sustainability-aware   witness further   local farmers, creating
 reach at an unprecedented rate.                            ·   Limit overproduction.
 ecosystem. As it stands today,
        consolidation. The processed   circular benefits.
 Maharashtra is not only meeting   4. Geographical Diversification  ·   Set up 5–10 hygienic
        chicken segment is also   Key Enablers
 domestic demand but also   Once concentrated in regions like   gaining traction and is set to   ·   Combined subsidy of up   retail outlets of their own
 contributing significantly to regional   Nasik, Sangli, Satara, and Panvel,   see robust growth.  to 70% from state (40%)   to gauge consumer
 poultry supply, particularly to   poultry farming is now seeing marked   preferences directly.
        Industry Overload: The      and central (30%)
 neighboring Gujarat. However, this   expansion into Vidarbha, Marathwada,   A balance between scale,
        Dark Side of Expansion      governments.
 growth comes with new challenges   Aurangabad, and Amravati. This not   sustainability, and quality is
        Rapid expansion has led to   ·   ROI achievable within
 that require strategic responses from   only decongests the traditional belts   not just beneficial—it is
 both industry stakeholders and   but also fosters rural economic   another   2.5–3 years for medium-  essential. Consumer trust,
                                    to-large operations.
 policymakers.  development.  challenge—overproduction.     economic viability, and
        Few major integrators have   ·   Carbon credit and agri-
 Key Shifts Reshaping Maharashtra's                         environmental responsibility
 5. Youthful Drive & Hygiene Focus  ramped up placements.   sustainability recognition
 Poultry Landscape                                          will determine the future of
 The sector is seeing increasing   Higher average body weights   as potential future   poultry in Maharashtra.
 1. Integration Takes Over
 involvement from young, educated   are contributing to a glut in   benefits.
 A seismic shift has occurred in farm   entrepreneurs who are bringing fresh   supply, which could severely   Awaited Policy Shift:   Let us choose thoughtful
 structures. While just a few years ago,   impact small and mid-level   evolution over reckless
 energy, hygiene-centric practices, and   Recognizing Poultry as   expansion.
 digital adaptation to the fore.  integrators.
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