Avian Flu, body blow to poultry trade worldwide: FAO

New Delhi, Apr 9: The bird flu, spread across 45 countries including India, has dealt a severe blow to the poultry trade worldwide with the culling or death of over 200 million birds in the past three years, according to Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO).

The deadly bird flu has so far taken a toll of over 108 people globally during the period, says FAO's latest report.

The recent outbreaks in India, Europe, the West Asia and Africa have caused dramatic swings in poultry consumption and sharp price declines.

The disease is threatening the livelihoods of many people and depressing poultry prices in many regions of the world.

Some reports indicate that before the outbreak of the avian flu, the international prices over the last few years went up by over 30 per cent because of declining exportable supplies. But the developments in early 2006 created a completely different market environment, wherein consumption shocks are progressively lowering global import demand for broiler meat.

Poultry prices are expected to continue declining, threatening industry profitability around the world, household livelihood and rural employment opportunities in all developing countries, the FAO said.

The unfounded fears of disease transmission have reduced consumption and affected general trade including imports and exports.

If the domestic prices remain depressed, lower production growth is forecast.

In India, drop in consumption by 25 - 30 per cent has caused prices to fall by over 50 per cent in some areas, implying lower production prospects for some time to come.

The consumption in some markets is showing an upward trend, but stocks are still selling below cost of production.

The FAO, in close collaboration with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), has urged governments to concentrate containment efforts. It has emphasised the role of human activity - trade and markets - which are the main spreaders of the virus.

WHO and OIE said that ultimately it is the consumer, who needs to be convinced that the product that is being offered is safe and the companies in the business and governments are going all the way to ensure that the products are safe to consume.

Vigorous response to outbreaks in certain regions, particularly in Thailand, India, Vietnam and China have reduced the chances of transmission of the disease from poultry to humans.

UNI