Published on February 20 2006
HYDERABAD: Panicked at the reports of the Avian Bird Flu striking poultry farms in neighbouring Maharashtra, consumption of chicken meat and related products fell by more than 50 per cent in the twin cities and adjoining Ranga Reddy district on Sunday.
Sending the hopes of poultry farmers into a tailspin, scores of outlets selling chicken wore a deserted. The price of chicken, which is Rs 66 per kg, is likely to crash and fall below to Rs 50 by Monday.
Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh Government has sent 159 samples from various farms and locations where migratory birds visit to the Bhopal-based Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for testing.
They are in addition to 534 samples already sent for testing during the last one year but none of them were tested positive.
Besides, well trained special teams have been constituted in each district headed by a joint director and two doctors to tackle any emergency. “There is no reason to panic. We have despatched medicines and taking all bio security measures across the state,” Director of Animal Husbandry Dr L Mohan told this website's newspaper.
According to him, the Bhopal laboratory authorities would immediately inform the results of the samples sent by Andhra Pradesh Government if they were found positive.
Mohan, who held a meeting with representatives of AP Poultry Federation, AP Broiler Breeders Association and National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC), said that poultry sector in Andhra Pradesh was well organised and the farmers were taking all measures to prevent the outbreak of the virus.
“The investment needed for starting a farm with one lakh fowls is Rs 3 crore and the investor would definitely take all steps to protect his birds,” he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment