What are the repercussions of Bird Flu on the Indian Poultry Business?

The country was trying to cope with the havoc of the recent coronavirus pandemic, and meanwhile, the news of bird flu struck India's poultry industry! Bird flu India is taking a major toll on the country's poultry sector and is also bringing a major downfall for chicken and other such products in the country. Experts say that this level of infection and the impact on the overall industry is historic, and the market is worst-hit with its effects.

How badly is the country struck with bird flu?

Although all parts of the country are coping with the effects of bird flu, North India is precisely the most hit. And this flu has brought down chicken sales and other related products, leading to enormous losses for the people connected to it. There is also a ban imposed on hen transportation from one part to another. Hence, a  lot of chickens are left unsold and due to the inability to transport. The poultry industry's top leaders are getting into the conversation with the central government to discuss it further.

Despite the panic related to the bird flu pandemic in India, the cases are spiking high only in few countries. The majority of the issues related to poultry chicken infection are from Harayana. Besides, there are also many cases related to the wild or migratory birds in saturated regions. Even in poultry ducks, there are several cases of bird flu in India.

Statistics for the bird flu infection!

The year 2021 brought along the news of a high increase in bird flu cases in the country. As a result, the demand for chicken and other poultry products went down by 70%. As Ramesh Khatri, the Poultry Federation of India president reported to IANS that there is a significant fall in chicken sales. The reduction ranges from 70-80% within a short time of three or four days. The whopping fall of 50% prices led to significant losses for the professionals dealing in it. Even the prices of eggs went down by 15-20 %.

Khatri further highlighted that the primary reason for the decline in demand for chicken is the ban on transportation from the major producing states. Domestic transport is a complete halt within the states of Delhi, Harayana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. Due to this, there is no poultry stock movement, and even the demand is also at an all-time low.

He further added that the two farms in Harayana, where most bird flu cases got detected, are the layer farms. There is no reported case from any of the broiler farms over there. What is the difference between the two? The layer farms are the ones where farming for eggs takes place, and it pays attention to the supply of eggs. At the broiler farms, the whole concentration shifts to the production and transport of chicken meat. Hence, it is necessary to notice people that chicken meat is not much affected by the impact of bird flu in Harayana state.

Further, he said that the central government must monitor and control the rumor-mongering of bird flu in India. After all, thousands of people associated with the poultry business pay hefty prices for the wrong rumors about this infection.

Rakesh Manhas, the poultry farm operator, also appealed to the central government to control the bird flu rumors. And they have again come up with new measures for preventing the losses and damages incurred to the poultry industry.

It would be interesting to witness how the industry and government would co-ordinate to fight the real and rumored effects of bird flu in India!