Sonia assures help to revive poultry industry: NECC

Pune, Apr 14 (UNI) UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi today assured assistance to revive the bird flu-hit poultry industry in the country, even as seven farmers have so far committed suicide in Maharashtra after being unable to bear heavy losses.

A delegation of poultry farmers, headed by National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC) Chairperson Anuradha Desai, called on Ms Gandhi this morning at Delhi.

Ms Desai told UNI over phone from Delhi that the delegation apprised her (Ms Gandhi) of the situation and state of the poultry farmers. She said, Ms Gandhi told the delegation that she is ''aware of the plight of poultry farmers and will extend all possible help.'' She was also informed that till date seven poultry farmers have committed suicide in Maharashtra due to the mounting losses.

The industry has lost Rs 8,000 crore at Rs 200 crore daily.

NECC has appealed for immediate implementation of the relief package announced by the Maharashtra Government and also appealed to other State Governments to come up with similar packages.

Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh Animal Husbandry department has announced that anyone proven infected by bird flu would get Rs 10 lakh from the State Government, a report here said adding that eggs and chicken can be eaten without fear after being cooked at at 70 degrees centigrade.

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