Bird Flu scare affects poultry industry

Kakinada, Jan 22 (UNI) The spread of bird flu in West Bengal has adversely affected the poultry industry in Andhra Pradesh with egg supply to Orissa, Bihar, West Bengal and north-eastern states almost coming to a halt for the past one week.

Regional President of the National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC) T Upender Reddy told UNI, that of the total egg production of four crore from Vijayawada, Guntur, West Godavari and East Godavari regions, 2.5 crore was chiefly exported to Orissa and West Bengal, leaving 1.5 crore eggs for local consumption.

The bird flu scare had affected supply and the poultry farmers were suffering a daily loss of Rs three crore on an average in the coastal region. The production cost on an egg was Re one. ''If the situation in entire state is taken in to consideration, the loss will be around Rs seven crore.'' Stating that there was no bird flu in Andhra Pradesh, he said he would be leading a delegation to Kolkata to prevail upon the West Bengal Government to launch a campaign to clear the misgivings on consuming eggs from the state.

The poultry farmers were taking steps to preserve the piled up stock of eggs in cold storage, though it is expensive, he added.

UNI XR/BR SY RAI2039