Production of chicks, eggs down

PRODUCTION of chicks and eggs in Chitwan has declined substantially due to the bird flu outbreak in Kathmandu. Poultry farmers are finding it hard to run their business after the government imposed a ban on supply and sales of poultry products in the Kathmandu valley, a big market for Chitwan’s poultry industry. With a series of bird flu cases threatening investment in the sector, there is a palpable risk of entrepreneurs diverting their investment from this sector. They said the district has witnessed almost a 50 percent drop in egg production. Chitwan, which generally produces 70,000 eggs a day, is now producing around 35,000 eggs. “Poultry farming has become a risky business after frequent cases of bird flu,” said Gyan Bahadur Bisural, president of Poultry Entrepreneurs Forum (East), Chitwan. “That’s why the production of eggs has gone down.” Poultry farmers have demanded the government think seriously about their problems. In a bid to prevent bird flu in the district, Nepal Egg Producers Association has circulated a direction to farmers to use new crates and cartoons for egg packaging. Shiva Ram KC, central member of the association, said the production of eggs came down due to the shortage of chicken in the farms. He, however, said the demand for egg is still good in the market despite the cases of bird flu. Tika Ram Pokhrel, former president of the Poultry Entrepreneurs Forum, said although the government has imposed a ban on supply and sales of chicken, there is no such restriction for egg. He also claimed the bird flu cases of the valley have no impact on the sales of chicks as they are hardly sold in Kathmandu. Pokhara and Butwal are the major markets for chicks, where 100,000 chicks are supplied daily from Chitwan. District Livestock Service Office, Chitwan, has said it has maintained high alert to save the district from bird flu.