Andhra Pradesh announces Rs.657-cr package for poultry sector

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

The Andhra Pradesh government has approved the AP Poultry Development Policy 2026-29 with a Rs.657-crore financial package aimed at strengthening the poultry sector, reducing production costs and improving the income and employment prospects of poultry farmers, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu said on Saturday. Representatives of the Poultry Association met the Minister at his Vijayawada office and thanked the government for approving the policy. Atchannaidu said steps would be taken to implement the policy at the earliest.

The package includes Rs.209 crore for food-processing incentives, Rs.152.18 crore under the Industrial Policy and Rs.296 crore for programs to be implemented by the Animal Husbandry Department. The government will provide a four per cent interest subsidy on loans taken for infrastructure development of poultry farms and hatcheries, with Rs.72 crore earmarked for the scheme over three years, the Minister said. To reduce the power burden on poultry farmers, tariffs have been regulated at Rs.3.75 per unit for low-tension poultry farms and Rs.4.75 per unit for feed-mixing units.

New Environment Controlled (EC) poultry sheds will be eligible for a capital subsidy of up to 25 per cent, subject to a maximum of Rs.25 lakh, towards infrastructure. Existing poultry sheds can avail a subsidy of up to 25 per cent, capped at Rs.20 lakh, for modernization.

Eligible EC poultry farms will also receive interest subsidy on term loans and an electricity tariff subsidy of up to Rs.2 per unit, capped at Rs.10 lakh a year, for three years. Eligible projects under the National Livestock Mission will be entitled to a capital subsidy of up to 50 per cent, subject to a maximum of Rs.25 lakh.Atchannaidu identified the rising price of maize as one of the major challenges facing the poultry sector. To reduce feed costs, the State government would discuss the issue with the Centre and take steps to make broken rice (nuka biyyam) available to poultry farms, he said.