Poultry Crisis Leads to AIADMK Walkout in Tamil Nadu Assembly
Tamil Nadu government forms district panels amid farmers’ protests.
Chennai witnessed high drama in the Tamil Nadu Assembly when AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami led his party MLAs in a dramatic walkout on Thursday. The opposition protested the Speaker’s decision to defer discussion on the severe livelihood crisis facing poultry farmers during zero hour. Palaniswami insisted on immediate attention to the issue, but Speaker M Appavu noted that multiple parties had submitted notices and the concerned minister needed time to consult officials. Despite assurances from Chief Minister M K Stalin that the matter would be taken up on Friday, the AIADMK members raised slogans before exiting the House.
Outside the Assembly, Palaniswami accused the DMK government of siding with purchasing companies at the expense of farmers. He highlighted that Tamil Nadu’s poultry sector supports around 40,000 farmers and five lakh workers. Growers have been demanding a hike in their fee to Rs 20 per kg from the stagnant Rs 6.50 per kg, amid soaring input costs over the past six months of protests. The former Chief Minister criticised the government’s inaction, claiming it has ignored repeated pleas from the farming community.
In a swift response the same evening, the Tamil Nadu government announced the formation of district-level technical committees to address the broiler farmers’ grievances. These panels will consult farmers, integrators, and other stakeholders to evaluate input quality, rising costs, productivity enhancement, disease management, veterinary care gaps, and mismatches between production and procurement. Collectors in major poultry districts will also be involved before the committees submit actionable recommendations.
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The state’s broiler industry is significant, producing and selling 5 crore to 5.5 crore chickens annually. It involves nearly 20,000 farm owners and about 66 integrators, making it a vital economic driver in rural areas. The move aims to resolve the ongoing standoff, though opposition parties continue to press for urgent relief measures to prevent further distress in the sector.
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