By Chandran Iyer

The 17th Poultry India Expo  kicked off as a meeting point for those who believe that eggs and poultry can rewrite India’s nutrition story. From scientists decoding viruses to entrepreneurs launching new technologies, everyone shared one goal: making affordable protein reach every home and every child.Over four days (25–28 November), this platform in Hyderabad, Telangana — now regarded as Asia’s premier knowledge hub for poultry science and innovation — set out to explore that very possibility. The event began with Poultry Knowledge Day, a charged forum that blended policy insights, global disease alerts, emerging market behaviour and a growing call to address India’s silent protein crisis.

A Vision Aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047

Uday Singh Bayas, President of the Indian Poultry Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA–Poultry India), opened the proceedings by grounding the expo’s purpose in a larger national narrative. The poultry industry, he said, mirrors the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat and is poised to play a decisive role in Viksit Bharat@2047, the nation’s long-term development vision.

Bayas  underscored the nutritional potential of poultry products in rural India, where eggs and chicken can directly combat underweight and undernutrition among children.

The day’s theme, “Sustainable and Profitable Poultry Farming for Viksit Bharat,” brought together a distinguished line-up of experts including former Animal Husbandry Secretary Dr. Tarun Sridhar, globally respected virologist Dr. Suresh K. Mittal from Purdue University, Sunil Kataria, CEO of Godrej Consumer Products, and international speakers from Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Hello Proteins: A Wake-Up Call on India’s Nutrition Deficit

One of the compelling moments came from O.P. Singh, Managing Director of Huvepharma SEA, who presented his documentary Hello Proteins. The film — produced as a non-commercial public awareness initiative — starkly illustrates the scale of India’s protein deficiency and the urgency of promoting affordable, accessible protein sources like eggs and chicken.

Singh urged the industry to “join hands with Hello Proteins,” calling it a mission that places public health above profit.
“The pulse of the poultry industry is innovation, inclusion and impact,” he said, adding that technology and human enterprise together sustain one of the world’s most efficient protein supply chains. The documentary, he explained, aims to sensitise every stakeholder — from farmers to policymakers — about the need to elevate protein awareness at the national level.

H5N1 and the Alarming Global Disease Landscape

A sober warning came from Dr. Suresh K. Mittal, whose session on avian influenza gripped the audience. Reflecting on the global spread of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza, he said candidly, “We once believed the virus would disappear. Today, it is everywhere.”

More than 180 million birds have been euthanised in the U.S. alone, he noted, with wild birds and even mammals now acting as persistent reservoirs of infection.
“Cattle infections were unthinkable 25 years ago,” he said.
With the virus expanding its host range, he stressed the need for revamped vaccination strategies, stronger surveillance and upgraded biosecurity systems in India.

Dr. Mittal also made a poignant appeal:
“In this room, I want to see more women. Increasing women’s participation will accelerate every goal we seek to achieve.”

India Produces Enough Eggs—But Not for the Children Who Need Them Most

A powerful consumer and nutrition session unveiled one of India’s deepest contradictions. Despite producing 140 billion eggs a year — growing at a healthy 6.8% CAGR — half of rural children do not receive even one egg per week.

It’s not production, the speakers argued, but distribution gaps, cultural norms and purchasing behaviours that keep nutritious food out of the hands of those who need it most.

A Global Platform with Local Purpose

The inaugural day also saw participation from international dignitaries including Uganda’s Minister of State for Agriculture and Lebanon’s Head of Animal Quarantine, signalling Poultry India’s growing global relevance.

Uday Singh reminded the audience of the expo’s founding vision in 2007:
“One platform where Indian and global manufacturers could showcase technology for the benefit of farmers.”
Nearly two decades later, the platform is now shaping national policy discussions and market direction.

Charting the Road to 2047

Through the day’s sessions, experts offered a roadmap to strengthen India’s poultry and protein ecosystem:

• Dr. Tarun Sridhar emphasized protein security as an essential pillar of national development.
• Sunil Kataria highlighted shifts in the new-age consumer economy that the industry must prepare for.
• Technical sessions explored rural market strategies, GM crops, controlled poultry housing, and sectoral resilience.

Looking Ahead: Technology, Nutrition and National Growth

As the exhibition floor opens with more than 350 participating companies, the energy around HITEX signals a sector ready to reinvent itself. The 17th Poultry India Expo is no longer just an annual gathering — it has become a think tank, a technology hub and a public-health movement converging under one roof.