The Hindu Business Line : Fair to allay bird flu scare

SEVERAL film personalities, doctors and politicians will gather at People's Plaza on the Necklace Road on February 15 to say chick and egg! Coming to the rescue of the poultry industry in the State that is rattled by the "unfounded" fears of bird flu.

"We can tell you that our birds are free of flu," Mr K. Narayana Reddy, President of Andhra Pradesh Poultry Federation, told newsmen on Tuesday night.

Hit hard by widespread fears about bird flu that rocked the industry world over, the poultry industry in the State has decided to organise a `Chicken and Egg Mela' here on February 15 where a range of chicken and egg products would be put on sale at a nominal price.

"People can walk in, pay Rs 50 and pick any from a wide variety of chicken and egg food varieties," Mr Reddy said.

To be held at People's Plaza on the Necklace Road, the mela will be attended by Mr Bandaru Dattatreya, Union Minister for Urban Development, and Mr Teegala Krishna Reddy, Mayor, to extend solidarity for the industry's cause.

The federation is planning to hold similar melas in other parts of the State as well to educate the people.

"It is provided more than once that there is no bird flu in the country. All the samples taken from Haryana and several North-Eastern States were tested negative for the disease," he said.

Finding fault with a section of media for spreading fears, they said, "it is time the media remove the myths in the minds of public and build confidence to eat chicken and eggs."

But the damage has already been done, with the loss is estimated to be about Rs 100 crore. "The loss is manifold. While the industry takes the direct impact, several indirect players like maize producers too will be hit," the industry representatives said.

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