Maharashtra Poultry Crisis: Drought and Costly Maize Push Rearing Expenses Up

On-the-ground reporting from rural Maharashtra reveals a severe crisis gripping the poultry sector due to persistent drought conditions and escalating feed costs. Maize, the primary component of poultry feed, has witnessed a sharp price surge following crop failures caused by erratic rainfall and water scarcity in regions like Marathwada and Vidarbha. Small and medium poultry farmers report that production costs have spiked by 30 to 40 percent, making rearing operations economically unviable. While stories of agricultural innovation like Hitesh Chaudhary's success in Amroha and policy interventions like MP's Soybean Bhavantar Yojana highlight diverse rural dynamics across India, Maharashtra's poultry industry urgently requires governmental intervention and subsidised feed support to prevent widespread closures and retail price inflation.