Economy State suffered over100 crore due to Bird-flu phobia

Bangalore, Mar 18 (UNI) Due to a false rumour, the Karnataka's Rs 1500-crore poultry industry incurred Rs100 crore loss in a month, Mr Kantharaju, Chairman, Karnataka State Co-operative Poultry Board informed here today.

Speaking to newsmen, Mr Kantharaju said that due to misconception and also widespread propaganda over bird-flu that occurred at a remote village in Maharashtra, the Karnataka poultry industry had suffered over Rs 3.5 crore per day.

He said that due to scruplous maintenance of bio-safety measures and hygenic conditions, the poultry farms in the state were safe from the hazardous N5H1 virus. He said that even though the domestic consumption of eggs and poultry meat fell drastically, the exports to Japan and European countries were normal.

He said misconceptiona about the birdflu had caused severe economic loss and misery to over two million people who were engaged in the poultry industry for their livelihood.

Mr Kantharaju said that over 9000 samples had been collected from the chickens which had fever but they were found negative to the N5H1 viruses.

He said the situation in the state had improved for the last few days. The export of eggs and chicken meat to the neighbouring states had being picking up.

Mr Kanataraju appealed to the state government to make the poultry industry on par with agriculture to enable the farmers to enjoy the benefits and subsidies. He also appealed to the government to release Rs 71 crore of subsidies due to poultry industry since 1999.

Mr Kantharaju urged the state government that the eggs be served at mid-day meals to school children as it had been done in neighbouring states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

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