West bengal: Bird flu closes in on Kolkata

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       West bengal: Bird flu closes in on Kolkata        

ISLAMABAD, Jan 27 (APP): Two more districts in West Bengal have now been infected by the bird flu; the districts are South 24 Parganas and West Midnapore.

This takes the total number of districts affected to 13. South 24 Parganas is only 20 kms from Kolkata, NDTV reported. 

The five thousand crore organized poultry industry in West Bengal has taken a bad hit following the outbreak of bird flu. 

Since 15th January when the epidemic was officially declared, chicken sales and export have dipped to an all time low. 

Those in the industry are counting the days to the end of the culling now under progress. This is also the first time that the bird flu has affected backyard poultry in the world.

So far, bird flu may have struck mainly backyard poultry in 13 of the 19 districts in Bengal, but the organised poultry sector too is feeling the pinch.

Poultry farms in the state produce close to 60 lakh birds a week.

But dipping sales and little demand for exports is making the industry lose 10 crore rupees daily.

“Bird flu has hit us very badly very badly, sales had gone down to 75 per cent even in the first five days.  It has picked up a bit now, as it is 60 to 65 per cent sales down now. The prices have absolutely crashed. It is way below our cost of production,” said Prasun Roy, President, West Bengal Poultry Owners Association.

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Pebbles19 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Valued Member Joined: August 01 2007 Status: Offline Points: 232	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pebbles19 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: West bengal: Bird flu closes in on Kolkata Posted: January 27 2008 at 3:59am
	West bengal: Bird flu closes in on Kolkata ISLAMABAD, Jan 27 (APP): Two more districts in West Bengal have now been infected by the bird flu; the districts are South 24 Parganas and West Midnapore. This takes the total number of districts affected to 13. South 24 Parganas is only 20 kms from Kolkata, NDTV reported. The five thousand crore organized poultry industry in West Bengal has taken a bad hit following the outbreak of bird flu. Since 15th January when the epidemic was officially declared, chicken sales and export have dipped to an all time low. Those in the industry are counting the days to the end of the culling now under progress. This is also the first time that the bird flu has affected backyard poultry in the world. So far, bird flu may have struck mainly backyard poultry in 13 of the 19 districts in Bengal, but the organised poultry sector too is feeling the pinch. Poultry farms in the state produce close to 60 lakh birds a week. But dipping sales and little demand for exports is making the industry lose 10 crore rupees daily. “Bird flu has hit us very badly very badly, sales had gone down to 75 per cent even in the first five days. It has picked up a bit now, as it is 60 to 65 per cent sales down now. The prices have absolutely crashed. It is way below our cost of production,” said Prasun Roy, President, West Bengal Poultry Owners Association.
	hugs :o)