Himalayan News Service

Dhangadhi, February 7

Avian Influenza, commonly called as Bird Flu, has had an adverse effect on the poultry and meat industries of the far western development region.

Bird flu has spread like an epidemic among domestic animals of countries like Vietnam and Thailand and until now, it has not been diagnosed in the country. However, there is a high possibility of the disease entering the country and affecting meat industries. Related businessmen said that the consumption of chicken has gone down by 75 per cent, with the fear of bird flu playing the spoil sport.

In an interaction programme organised by the District Animal Services Office of Kailali (DASO), poultry farmers of Kailali and Kanchanpur said that the demand of chicken has plummeted and so has the consumption of meat.

Dambar Bahadur Singh, chief of the DASO, informed that strict surveillance has been kept on

bird transit points and import of chicken and eggs have also be prohibited, but there are always high chances of avian being smuggled in.

The threat of Avian flu has increased the demand of mutton and domesticated chicken. Slaughterhouses that cater to these needs are unable to meet the demand currently.

More than a quintal of poultry meat used to be consumed in Dhangadhi, Chauraha and Masumandi Bazaar daily, which has reduced to a mere 24-30 kg per day, said businessman Sher Bahadur Bogati.

He added that the demand for mutton has not been met and the demand for chicken is very low. The price of imported and broiler chicken per kilogram has gone down by Rs 10 while the same amount has been raised for per kilogram of domesticated or local chicken.

Kuber Sharma, a businessman dealing in meat, said that the Indian chicken market is also in dire straits. There too, slaughterhouses are unable to meet the demand for mutton. He added, "The import of goats from India has gone down by 60 per cent."

The drop in poultry meat has affected more than three-dozen poultry farmers of Kailali and Kanchanpur.

Dr Bimal Kumar Nirmal, chief of Regional Animal Disease Control Laboratory, said that the bird flu has not been seen in the country yet. Despite this, there is very high change of the avian flu being spotted here.

He claimed that the consumption of a healthy chicken does not pose any health risk. "The bird flu virus, H5N1 virus gets killed in up to 70 degrees centigrade," Dr Nirmal added.

Raju Iyer, chairman of Kailali Poultry Farmers Association, said that they should organise awareness campaigns to inform public about the dangers of avian flu and ways to stay away from it.