January 7, 2009
India's Assam state pours financial help on bird-flu stricken areas
The government of Indian state Assam is moving to help the poultry sector, which has been hurt by the re-emergence of the bird flu.
The state government will soon decide to relax loans to poultry farmers affected from the culling operations in bird flu-notified areas, and an income-generating alternative scheme is also under consideration, said State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bharat Narah.
Narah said about 510,000 fowls were culled in and around 17 bird flu areas of nine districts. Cash compensation to affected farmers and families amounted to Rs17.2 million (US$355,000) has been distributed, Narh said.
The minister also said the state government has launched a Rs30 million (US$619,200) scheme for about 12,000 bird flu-affected families in bordering Dhubri and Kokrajhar districts. Goats and pigs were provided to those families as an alternative source of income.
