BANEPA, Jan 5: The import of broiler parent stocks from foreign countries has not stopped despite the establishment of two grand-parent (GP) farms in the country meant for local production of parent stock. As a result, the outflow of millions of rupees each year has not stopped.
As per recent statistics, parent stocks worth Rs 540 million were imported in the first five months of the current fiscal year. Additional Rs 100 million was spent on air fare for the import.
A parent stock variety -- Cobb-500 -- is produced in Nepal under direct supervision of Cobb-Vantress Inc., an American company. Cobb Nepal Private Limited has established GP farms in Panchkhal and Dhulikhel of Kavre for production of parent stock.
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In 2014, production of Cobb-500 was started with the aim of making domestic poultry farmers self-dependant in producing broiler parent stock. Five years have passed but Cobb Nepal has not been able to fulfill the demand of hatcheries. Due to this reason, local hatcheries need to depend on GP farms of foreign countries.
“Owners of Cobb Nepal GP farm have their own hatcheries. Unless they fulfill their own requirement, they won't sell parent stock to outside hatcheries. So for the production of Cobb-500 we are compelled to depend on GP farms of Thailand and Malaysia,” said a hatchery entrepreneur of Chitwan who is in the trade for a long time.
This fact was proved by the data of the Department of Customs for this fiscal year until mid-December. During these five months, 400,000 Cobb-500 from Thailand and 64,344 from Malaysia have entered Nepal.
According to the department, more than 700,000 parent stocks were imported from 11 different countries during this period.
Parent stocks are imported from India, Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, UK, France, Denmark, Canada, America, and New Zealand. Besides, 3,500 parent stocks were imported from unspecified countries.
In the five months of the current fiscal year, the country has imported parent stocks worth Rs 540 million.
Poultry's contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is four percent, and it has been providing employment opportunities to around 400,000 individuals directly or indirectly. The grains for chickens are imported from India and other third countries.
Statistics does not match
There is no uniform statistics of GP, parent stock, and hatchable eggs that are imported every year into the country. The statistics of the Department of Customs, quarantine offices and Nepal Hatchery Industry Association do not match at all. Taxes are waived to import parent stock on the recommendation of the government.
