BELAGAVI
The ban that has been imposed after a period of more than three and half months of occurrence of bird flu has put the industry in quandary.
While questions over the timing of the ban are being raised, terming the ban as ‘non relevant’, the Karnataka Poultry Farmers & Breeders Association (KPFBA), sensing heavy losses, is in a damage control mode and is sending a delegation on Monday to convince Goan authorities to lift the ban.
Expressing deep concern and surprise over the ban, KPFBA president Ashok Kumar told The Goan that the ban was imposed after three and half months after the outbreak of bird flu in Bidar. He has also cautioned Goan authorities about the steep rise in chicken prices if the ban continues.
“Why is the ban imposed when everything is fine with the poultries here? The bird flu was limited to a few poultries in Bidar. The authorities had initiated appropriate measures to arrest its widespread. The birds were culled, poultries were sanitised and special surveillance teams are closely monitoring the situation,” Kumar said.
Stating that the poultry farmers and breeders in the state strictly abide by the WHO protocol, he said they were shocked by the ban. Thus in an attempt to lift the ban, the KPFBA delegation will apprise Goan authorities about the situation in Karnataka on Monday.
Expressing deep concern, Sanjeev Deshpande, director of Kwality Animal Feeds and Breeding Farms from Belagavi, a major supplier to Goa, said the ban was rather untimely and apart from incurring huge losses to the farmers and breeders it would adversely affect supplies to Goa. “Normally, bird flu occurs in summer and there are no chances of its occurrence in rainy season, hence the ban is untimely. About 20,000 birds are sent to Goa from Belagavi district alone every day,” Deshpande said urging Goan authorities to lift the ban immediately.
The two days of ban has posed serious problems in streamlining the present livestock, he said.
Meanwhile, a section of poultry owners have questioned the timing of the ban, that coincides with the outcome of Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal verdict on Monday.
“Is this ban imposed in a fit of vengeance,” a poultry farmer questioned urging Goan authorities to lift the ban in the interest of the people of Goa.
