Chitwan: Chicken feed industries are on the verge of closure due to the protracted bandh in the plains. According to Nepal Feed Industries’ Association central former chairperson Tilchandra Bhattarai, the industries have run out of raw materials due to the bandh.

“The industries have been at the receiving end as vehicle movement has come to a halt and customs offices are closed,” said Bhattarai, adding that the industries will probably have to pull their shutters down if the bandh lasts one more week. Chicken feed industries in Nepal produce 2,100 metric tonnes of poultry feed every day. “We’ve not been able to supply the raw materials due to the ongoing bandh as 60 per cent of the raw material is imported from India,” said Bhattarai.

There are 120 chicken feed industries registered across the country. Of the total Rs 70 billion invested in the poultry sector, almost half goes to the feed industries. “First it was the bird flu, then the devastating earthquake and now the protracted bandh, how are we supposed to carry on with our businesses amid such distractions?” asked feed industry owners.