Poultry farmers decry import
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 22 2013 :
The All Manipur Poultry Farmers' and Traders' Association has decried the unrestraint import of poultry products from outside the State saying it has the potential to trigger outbreak of bird flu in addition giving a big blow to poultry farmers of the State.
Speaking to media persons at Yumsha Chicken, Keishamthong this evening, president of the All Manipur Poultry Farmers' and Traders' Association H Kullachandra said that the main reason for the quantum jump in the price of chicken at Imphal is steady monopolisation of the local chicken market by large poultry farms based outside the State.
On account of the unres-traint and continuous import of chicken, many small time local poultry farmers are losing their capacity to run poultry farms.
Subsequently, livelihood of around 40-50,000 families have been put in serious jeopardy, Kullachandra highlighted.
Even as the State Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department has already issued an order to monitor import of poultry products from outside the State, no law enforcing agencies has been implementing the order till date.
A few years back, the association tried to check import of poultry products from outside the State though it was illegal.
Poultry farms based outside the State first sent in poultry products at cheaper prices thereby giving a serious blow to local poultry farmers.
But once they took control of the (poultry) market, they raised the price of chicken and recuperated their lost profit.
Moreover, because of illegal taxed imposed by outlawed organisations, poultry feeds are much dearer in Manipur as compared to other States which automatically means substantial reduction in the profit margin of local poultry farmers, said the Association president.
Kullachandra fervently appealed to the State Government and civil society organisations to effectively check unrestraint import of poultry products in the interest of local farmers and also to avoid communication of diseases through imported poultry products.