Dimapur, Nov. 5 (EMN): Market monopoly or ‘syndicate system’—the scourge of common people in Nagaland, especially in Dimapur district—continues to dominate the local market scenario, according to the Dimapur Poultry Farmers’ Union.
In a letter addressed to the deputy commissioner of Dimapur, the union on Tuesday stated that even though there are around 200 to 300 chicken farmers in Dimapur, only a ‘handful of dedicated farmers facing a huge problem’ were on the verge of shutting down their farms.
According to the union, the poultry business is fully controlled by “some individuals supported by few vested interested locals”.
“Theoretically the system of syndicate has been banned but still exists in the market. No farmers are allowed to sell directly to the retailers. The unwillingness of the wholesale dealers to promote our local farmers is the greatest stumbling block of the farmers.
“There exist a syndicate system in the large context for hatching eggs and day-old-chicks in which the price goes as high as INR 56 per chick, also the high cost of feeds. There are about 5-6 multinational companies in the border of Assam and Nagaland which control price based on monopoly system. Whenever there is local product they bring down the price and when there is no production they shoot the price as high as INR 125 per kg. Under such system, all the local farmers are hammered down to losses,” read the statement.
Also, it stated that since the “integration parties” own parent stock, hatchery and feed mill, there is a wide gap of production cost between the integration parties and the local farmer.
“The details of production-cost of one local farmer is given in separate sheet. The broiler rate of integration parties at Bokajan fluctuates from INR 70 to INR 125 per kg live weight; INR 140 per kg and sometimes sold up to INR 170 live weight.
“Therefore, we request the intervention of your esteemed authority to help the farmers sell our product at minimum profitable rate. Your kind help will enable the local farmers to grow, generate self-employment for our local educated unemployed people in the near future,” read the statement.
