The Hindu Business Line : Industry seeks zoning of poultry areas

Hyderabad, Jan. 21 Even as the ‘bird flu’ effect continues to hit the prices of eggs and broiler chicken, the poultry industry feels that it is time for the Government to divide the poultry map of the country into zones.

For one, the Government can divide the two important poultry States, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, into five zones. “Andhra Pradesh, the biggest player in the industry, could be divided into three zones — Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Anaparthy. Similarly, Tamil Nadu could be split into Salem and Nammakkal zones,” Mr Kasireddy Narayana Reddy, President of AP Poultry Farmers’ Federation, told Business Line.

The industry has been asking for zoning of the poultry areas in the country as it would help farmers minimise losses in the event of an outbreak of diseases such as avian influenza.

“We too have recommended to the Union Government to divide the State into zones,” Dr L Mohan, Director of Animal Husbandry Department, said.

In order to bail out the industry from the present crisis, the State Government has already started issuing certificates to exporters, saying that the eggs were being exported from ‘no-bird flu’ areas.

Though West Bengal had not imposed any restrictions on imports, the exporters are worried that their loads could be stopped at check-posts. “Hence, they sought certificates from us,” Dr Mohan said.