The Hindu Business Line : Bird flu: ‘No reason for worry in AP’

Hyderabad, Jan. 22 It is not the first time that poultry farmers in Andhra Pradesh are being hit by reports of avian influenza in other States; nor it is going to be the last. As they suffer from the cascading effect of such reports every year, the question that rattles the farmers is — what if it breaks out somewhere here?

It was one of the major issues on the agenda when poultry farmers met here last week to discuss the crisis. Dr L. Mohan, Director of Animal Husbandry, met up with farmers to take stock of the situation and to tell them to spruce up bio-security measures.

“We cannot afford such a crisis, as economic activity worth thousands of crores is involved directly and indirectly,” Dr Mohan told Business Line.

Bio-security issues

Ruling out the possibility of an outbreak of bird flu in the State, he said, “There is no reason to worry for now. Getting it through migratory birds is ruled out as the birds are already on their way back home. We don’t import any poultry products,” Dr Mohan said.

Acknowledging the fact that poultry farmers in the State manage their farms well, he, however, warned them not to take chances with bio-security issues. “You have to have incinerators installed to burn the dead birds,” he said.

The farmers admit this.

‘Negligence’

“Not many farmers have incinerators. Most choose to do without them. It is nothing but negligence,” Mr D. Ramreddy, President of Poultry Breeders Association (AP), said.

Mr K.V.S. Subba Raju, Zonal Chairman of NECC (National Egg Coordination Committee), discussed the issue of installing incinerators with the farmers.

“It doesn’t cost much. Perhaps 2-3 paise on each bird you sell. But it helps you a lot,” he told them.

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