Flu infected chicken from Bihar ?
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 21 2013: As a large numbers of matured chickens (Broiler) are sent in from outside the State particularly Assam and Bihar, it is suspected chickens are imported from Bihar too where outbreak of bird flu is reported presently.

Sources informed that chickens which have passed their egg laying periods and are no longer preferred for outside the State are sent in to the State at cheaper rates since the past five/six months.

Pretending to be supplying to army and para-military forces deployed in the State, chickens are imported from outside the State in vehicles which are embossed with the words "On Army Duty" .

These imported chickens are sold at Rs 15 to Rs 20 cheaper per Kg than the chickens reared by local farmers.

For importing chickens from outside the State, agents engaged in the trade possess certificates which appear to have been issued by army or Assam Rifles authorities.

Some of the chickens thus imported through fraudulent means are being sold in some chicken centres in the State presenting the imported chickens as locally reared chickens thereby seriously compromising the profit margin of local farmers.

According to the proprietor of a major poultry farm based in Imphal, five truck loads of chickens which have past egg laying periods are being imported into Manipur on daily basis.

There is a suspicion that chickens reared in those parts of Bihar where outbreak of bird flu was reported have been imported into Manipur.

On account of large scale import of chickens from outside the State at cheaper rates, some local farmers have given up the profession of rearing chickens, said the sources.

With many local poultry farmers giving up their profession, Manipur is facing a situation where suppliers would fix price of chickens at their whims and no chickens would be available in the State at times of blockade or bandh, they added.

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