CLFMA Hosts Strategic Seminar on the Future of Poultry in India

The Compound Livestock Feed Manufacturers Association (CLFMA) of India, in collaboration with the U.S. Grains Council and supported by the Bihar Poultry Farmers Association (BPFA), held a pivotal seminar in Patna to address the pressing challenges facing India's poultry industry. The event, titled “Poultry in India: Current Challenges & the Way Forward,” brought together over 60 stakeholders, including feed manufacturers, poultry farmers, nutritionists, grain suppliers, and academic researchers.

The seminar opened with a welcome from Nayantara A Pande, Marketing Specialist at the U.S. Grains Council, and a keynote address by CLFMA Chairman Divya Kumar Gulati, who emphasized the urgent need for industry-wide collaboration. Highlighting rising feed costs and market instability as primary concerns, Gulati called for collective action to build resilience in the sector. He also cited a recent Crisil Ratings report forecasting a dip in profitability for the 2025-26 fiscal year, driven by increased prices of maize and soybean, which make up 90% of feed costs. However, he noted that overall revenue for the industry is expected to grow by 8-10% due to strong demand and consumption.

Ms. N. Vijaya Lakshmi, Additional Chief Secretary of the Bihar Department of Animal Husbandry, also addressed the gathering, underscoring the state government’s support for sustainable practices in the poultry sector.

A series of expert-led sessions provided insights into feed alternatives and emerging solutions. Amit Sachdev, Regional Consultant with the U.S. Grains Council, delivered an overview of India’s feedstock scenario and its global impact. Reece H Cannady, Director at the Council, introduced U.S. sorghum as a potential alternative to conventional feed grains. Dr. Pankaj Kumar Singh from Bihar Animal Sciences University shared the latest research on incorporating Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) into livestock and poultry feed, promoting its cost-saving and efficiency-boosting potential.

The seminar also featured a panel discussion on “Navigating the Indian Poultry Sector’s New Normal,” moderated by Amit Saraogi, MD of Anmol Feeds. The panel included industry leaders such as B.M. Sahni of Patliputra Feeds, Pawan Kumar of BPFA, and Amit Sachdev, alongside CLFMA Chairman Gulati. The dialogue centered on the need for sustainable feed alternatives, greater policy clarity, and long-term strategies to strengthen supply chains.

By convening diverse voices from across the poultry value chain, the seminar underscored CLFMA’s role as a key facilitator of industry progress. The event reinforced the importance of innovation, collaboration, and research in navigating the complex challenges facing India's poultry sector, and set a constructive tone for future initiatives aimed at strengthening the industry.