At a time when the poultry trade is recovering from the losses caused by seasonal uncertainities on the domestic front and looking at tapping newer export markets, the outbreak of avian influenza or bird flu in Bangalore has made farmers and exporters jittery in Namakkal, the country’s eggland.
“Though poultry farms here have not been affected, the fear is that overseas buyers will not be location-specific while banning the products. They will stay away from our shipments until the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) declares the zone avian flu-free,” said P. Selvaraj, Chairman, National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC), Namakkal zone.
Exporters are looking at Afghanistan, Algeria as potential markets and only a month ago, Oman resumed imports of Indian poultry products and so far 55 containers (2.5 crore eggs) had been exported.
If they impose a ban again, it will become a problem for the export market that has just started looking up.
On the domestic front, Kerala - a major market for TN's shell egg and broiler trade - has banned the import of poultry and related products from Tamil Nadu causing a double whammy for the trade here. An NECC spokesperson said that nearly 15 trucks were held at Valayar checkpost and were denied permission to enter Kerala.
“The industry usually reaps benefits during November-January after all the austerities get over and Kerala, being a major market, the ban could result in 1.05 crore eggs piling up,” he said.
This also likely to result in a cut in prices, he cautioned.
The trade has represented to the State Government and the Union Government to urge Kerala to lift the ban.
Nearly 3,481 turkeys had succumbed to the H5N1 virus at the Government-run Central Poultry Development and Organisation (CPDO) poultry farm at Hesaraghatta in Bangalore. The CPDO also houses chicken, emu and duck units, which have been declared safe by the authorities.
An Animal Husbandry Department official in Bangalore said that so far 19,000 birds have been culled and they will maintain a 90-day quarantine.
“After 90 days, we will begin re-flocking and send samples to the laboratory just to confirm that the disease is completely wiped out. Till then, exports may take a hit.”