Mumbai, Apr 2 (PTI) Maharashtra is planning to develop a state-specific "egg brand" and expand poultry farming with subsidies to reduce dependence on imports, officials said on Thursday.

The state animal husbandry department is working on measures to boost egg production and strengthen the supply chain as it currently imports around 1.5 crore eggs daily from southern states to meet demand, they added.

Animal Husbandry Minister Pankaja Munde, who on Wednesday reviewed Mukhyamantri Gramin Pashudhan Udyojakata Yojana aimed at promoting rural entrepreneurship by linking agriculture with allied activities, said, "Maharashtra must develop its own egg brand on the lines of milk brands such as Aarey and Mahanand." This would create a stable market for poultry farmers and ensure quality assurance, she added.

Maharashtra requires around 3 crore eggs per day, but produces only about half, leading to imports from states such as Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, an official said.

The demand for eggs and chicken is driven largely by urban centres, and increasing local production would enhance incomes of farmers and poultry entrepreneurs in rural areas, he added.

As per the animal husbandry department, Maharashtra has over 7.42 crore poultry birds and about 14.26 lakh families are engaged in the sector, with regions such as Nandurbar, Dhule, Nashik, Amravati and Sangli having higher participation in poultry farming.

Under the Mukhyamantri Gramin Pashudhan Udyojakata Yojana, financial assistance is being provided at two levels, the official said.

"At the district level, individuals setting up units of up to 500 birds can avail a subsidy of up to Rs 1.66 lakh, which is 50 per cent of the project cost, while beneficiaries from SC and ST communities are eligible for 75 per cent support," he said.

For larger units of 5,000 birds, the project cost has been fixed at Rs 30 lakh, with a subsidy of Rs 15 lakh, and Rs 22.5 lakh for SC and ST beneficiaries, the official informed. PTI ND BNM