BELAGAVI
Poultry farmers from North Karnataka and Southern Maharashtra region will badly be hit by Goa imposing a ban entry of live poultry and other birds from neighbouring States, but the decision will also affect supplies to Goa and lead to a sharp rise in chicken prices.
Goa’s Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday evening had directed the state animal husbandry officials to impose a ban on entry of live poultry and other birds from Maharashtra and Karnataka.
The precautionary measures were initiated by Goa after a meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard.
Poultry farmers and industrialists have reacted sharply to the decision of the Goa government.
They feel the Goa government should have first taken stock of the situation in Karnataka as the ban imposed is expected to affect the poultry industry which was limping back to normalcy in the region after the Covid lockdown had adversely hit poultry farmers.
“Every day, about 15,000 birds are sent to Goa from Belagavi region alone. After incurring heavy losses during the Covid lockdown, the poultry industry was just getting back their business and poultry farmers across North Karnataka and South Maharashtra were just making up for the losses. However, Goa’s decision is expected to affect the already Covid-hit poultry industry,” lamented Ajit Lokur of the Kwality Feeds Pvt Ltd, breeder of Belchick brand of chicken and a major supplier to Goa.
Depending upon the requirement, about 12-15 vehicles loaded with chicken were being sent to Goa depending on the demand. However, we will not be sending any birds to Goa from today due to the ban.”
“In fact, no bird flu cases have been reported in Southern Maharashtra or Karnataka. Bird Flu is reported in Parbhani, several kilometres away. We would have appreciated if the Goa government had imposed the ban after a reality check,” Lokur added.
