BIRD FLU HITS CHICKEN SALES HARD, DEMAND FALLEN BY 30%

Poultry prices in India have fallen by almost a third in a week with consumption dropping after an outbreak of bird flu in six states.

“Demand has fallen nearly 30%,” Uddhav Ahire, chairman of Anand Agro Group, a poultry company based in the western city of Nashik, told news agency Reuters. Broiler chicken prices have fallen to Rs 60 a kg from around Rs 90 a week ago, he said, adding that farmers are incurring losses as the production cost is more than Rs 75.

Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, has so far been reported in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Haryana and Gujarat. On Thursday, the Centre also warned the states to be prepared for any eventuality vis-à-vis bird flu.

Over the past few weeks, thousands of birds have already been found dead in Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Kerala.

Avian influenza A (H5N1) is caused by a virus subtype that occurs mainly in birds. The disease is highly contagious among birds but it can also infect humans. The World Health Organisztion believes the current strain can mutate to become more contagious for humans.

As per the Reuters report, egg prices too have fallen by more than 10% in a week

as small farmers try to sell their produce as quickly as possible, fearing a further drop in prices, said a poultry farmer who declined to be named.

Even in Delhi, which has so far not reported any bird fly case, the poultry sale has seen a decline. A high-level meeting by deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia took place on Thursday over the emerging situation. After the meeting, instructions have been given to traders to take several measures.

As bird flu or avian influenza outbreak has spread to six states in the country, the Centre has requested states and Union Territories (UTs) to increase awareness regarding the safety of poultry or poultry products. It has also issued appropriate advisories to restore consumer confidence affected by rumours is put to rest.

These six include Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Gujarat. “Awareness among poultry farmers and the general public (consumers of eggs and chicken) about the disease is of foremost importance. Communication from Secretary (AHD) has been sent to Health Ministry to restore consumer confidence in consumption of chicken and eggs,” the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying said.

“Appropriate advisories have been requested to be issued from the Health Ministry in this regard so that consumer confidence affected by rumors is put to rest. Also, states have been requested to increase awareness regarding the safety of poultry or poultry products that were safe for consumption following boiling/cooking procedures for which central support would be available,” it added.

Besides this, the states that are still unaffected by avian influenza have been requested to keep a vigil on any unusual mortality amongst birds and to report immediately so that necessary measures are taken in the fastest possible time.

Central teams have been deployed to visit the affected states of Kerala, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh for monitoring and for epidemiological investigation.