With a total egg production close to 83 billion, India is among the top egg producers of the world. But the domestic requirement is much higher. So the production needs to be increased by three times, the minister emphasised.

The per capita availability of eggs is only 63 per year while the National Nutrition Institute prescribes for a minimum of 180, he said.

In order to achieve this target, the government of India has taken several steps to promote poultry farming, benefiting farmers while improving the nutrition scenario of the country.

The minister called for intensive awareness programmes to sensitise people about the nutritional values of eggs. “Doctors, nutrition specialists, academicians, women and child institutes, egg processing industries and related policy makers can play a vital role in this,” he said.

Underlining the fact that one in every four children up to five years is suffering from malnutrition, the minister said: “Eggs can help a lot in combating the malnutrition.”

“High nutrition contents are available in eggs. It is a rich source of protein, vitamins A, B6 and B12, amino acids and folate, iron, phosphorus and selenium. Recent research shows that it is helpful in reducing blindness,” the minister cited.

Poultry farming is promoted in the country through government’s National Livestock Mission. Financial assistance is also being given to the families living below the poverty line under the component of entrepreneurship development and employment generation.