According to market sources, the consumption of eggs and poultry products has trebled in the country over the past five years due to rising population.

From 10,000 tonnes a year, the consumption has soared to 30,000 tonnes, reveal market sources.

According to The Peninsula, this led retailers here to get more imports but with the onset of the global recession last year exports began dwindling and prices soaring putting a burden on consumers.

But some new and mega projects announced recently promise not only self-sufficiency in poultry products in the country over the next few years but also ensure surplus production which can be exported to neighboring countries.

Market sources say that unless subsidiary poultry projects like those for producing poultry feed, are set up locally the country’s poultry industry cannot hope to be competitive.

Costs can be minimised and products can really be sold at competitive prices only when we have supportive poultry industries as well, say market sources. Brazil remains one of the major exporters of frozen chicken not only to Qatar but also to the rest of the region.

So with supportive industries being set up frozen chicken and other factory products like chicken balls, rolls and kebabs can be mass-produced and marketed.