The bird flu scare in Chandigarh has caused a loss of over Rs90 crore to the poultry industry in three States — Punjab Haryana and western UP in the past seven days.
“The loss is of Rs80 crore for broiler and eggs alone and Rs10 crore for chicks due to rumors of bird flu across Haryana, Punjab, western UP and Delhi and NCR areas”, said SK Khanna, former Assistant Poultry Development Officer, Haryana.Talking to The Pioneer, Khanna said estimated loss is of Rs20 crore in Haryana followed by Rs17 crore in Punjab and Rs16 crore in western UP for broilers and eggs.“The major market of Punjab for poultry is in Jammu & Kashmir. We have not counted that loss as yet”, said Khanna. Haryana is a major centre for poultry farming and there are six crore poultry, including three crore broilers and 2.75 crore layers. In Punjab there is 4.5 crore poultry.
“From Haryana, we supply 200 trucks full of 545 ton meat to National Capital Delhi, which has been severely affected after rumors of bird flu in Chandigarh and its surrounding areas,” said Khanna.The prices of broilers and eggs has fallen sharply thereafter. “The price of one kg broiler has come down to Rs68 from Rs88 seven days earlier, similarly the prices of eggs also came down from Rs3.85 per egg to Rs3.55 after these news”, said Khanna.“This is peak season for consumption of poultry items. last year we sold one egg at Rs4.25 which remained less than Rs3.55 this time. The consumers refusing to put poultry products in their menu has badly affected the trade,” he said.