Poultry farmers continue hunger protest for second day at Avinashipalayam in Tiruppur

Demanding rise in rearing rates, release of those among them who have been arrested by the police under “false charges”, poultry farmers continued their hunger protest for the second day at Avinashipalayam in Tiruppur district on Tuesday.

The police had, in recent days, arrested the founder of Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Protection Association Easan Murugasamy and other functionaries of the association from various parts of the district, on the charges of obstructing the broiler companies from supplying chicks to poultry farms.

The protesters at Avinashipalayam, demanding the release of the nearly 22 arrested farmers, were taken into custody and brought to Tiruppur Government Medical College Hospital for health check-up. After they were let off, the protesters continued their agitation in front of the hospital and subsequently shifted to Avinashipalayam.

They alleged that the authorities had arrested Mr. Easan Murugasamy and other functionaries of the association at the behest of the corporate broiler companies to prevent their participation in the tripartite talks convened on January 21, 2026 (Wednesday) by the Government involving the poultry farmers and the broiler companies for a discussion on the demands.

The protesting farmers are also demanding an outcome for the inam land imbroglio. The protesters asserted that their non-violent fight for justice cannot be stifled under the provisions of the Constitution.

The farmers who have been on a strike since the start of the month are certain that the broiler companies will have to budge inevitably since the 45-day gestation of the rearing of broiler chicken is bound to cause a huge demand crisis. The demand of the farmers is for a raise in the rearing rate from ₹6.50 to ₹15 per kg for broiler chicken, ₹20 per kg for country chicken and ₹5 per bird for quail.

The contention of the farmers is that their demand is justified factoring in the steep rise in the cost of coir pith, and electricity charges. The poultry farmers are also opposed to calculation of weight of the bird on the basis of Feed Conversion Ratio.