Government Approved It, Companies Skipped It, Farmers Pay the Price: Karnataka Poultry Growers Announce Indefinite Strike from Nov 25

Bengaluru- Two poultry farmers’ associations in Karnataka have announced a “Vidhana Soudha Chalo” march in Bengaluru on November 25. They have also called an indefinite strike from that evening, saying the state has not implemented a minimum growing charge that it approved.

The Karnataka State Poultry Farmers Welfare Association and the Akhila Karnataka Poultry Farmers Welfare Association said farmers will stop accepting chicks and halt poultry farming from the evening of November 25.

According to the associations, the state fixed a minimum growing charge of Rs 6.20 per kg in 2021. They say farmers demanded that it be raised to at least Rs 20 and held a series of protests over the past year. The issue was also raised in the Legislative Assembly.

"The Animal Husbandry Commissioner held several rounds of talks with farmers and company representatives. It was agreed that an interim minimum of Rs 10 per kg would be paid", Yashavanth T. (President), Venkatareddy (State President) and Sridhar Reddy (General Secretary) of the Karnataka State Poultry Farmers Welfare Association said in a press statement. They state that the Animal Husbandry Minister approved this, and that the rate was approved by the state government in May 2026.

Chandrashekhar (State President) and Raj Kumar (State President, Bengaluru Rural wing) of the Akhila Karnataka association allege that the order was never issued. They say the then Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, resigned before it could be, and that despite repeated appeals the present government under D.K. Shivakumar has not directed the integration companies to pay the rate. They allege the companies are using this to avoid paying it and are exploiting farmers. They hold what they call the “anti-farmer stance” of the current Animal Husbandry Minister and the government responsible for the delay.

Key Issues faced by poultry farmers

Poultry farmers in Karnataka face growing cost pressures and operational hurdles, particularly surrounding growing charges, input inflation, and contracting terms.

Prices for core feed ingredients like maize and soya have jumped dramatically, driven in part by the diversion of maize toward ethanol production and drought or monsoon-related crop drops in the state. Feed accounts for roughly 80% of total production costs.

In contract farming models, farmers are paid a "growing charge" by integrator companies based on bird weight gain and performance. Farmers frequently push back that these contracted rearing or growing rates fail to keep pace with soaring electricity tariffs, labor, medicine, and general maintenance overheads.

Disease outbreaks and heat stress continue to trigger high chick mortality rates, cutting directly into the net payouts and incentives calculated on growing charge statements.

Demands

The associations have kept these demands:

1. An order directing integration companies to pay Rs 10 per kg, with the Animal Husbandry Commissioner issuing the instructions.

2. Implementation of the Karnataka Poultry Control and Development Bill, 2022.

3. Agriculture status for poultry farming, through an amendment to the Karnataka Land Revenue Act.

4. A poultry cooperative federation on the lines of the Karnataka Milk Federation.

The associations said that if the strike disrupts the supply of chicken and eggs, the state government will be responsible for the inconvenience to consumers.