January 28, 2008

India's state of Tamil Nadu faces poultry price crisis

Tamil Nadu's poultry industry is suffering from plunging poultry prices although no bird flu case has been reported.

Following West Bengal's bird flu outbreak and many countries' subsequent banning of Indian poultry products, poultry prices in many parts of the state have nose-dived.

Prices of chicken in many parts of the state have dipped to as low as Rs20 per kg and a dozen eggs are sold at Rs10.

The Namakkal region of Tamil Nadu produces almost 20 million eggs daily, with nearly five million being exported mainly to the Gulf countries. However, the exports have been banned since the bird flu outbreak and neighbouring Sri Lanka has also announced a ban on Indian poultry and eggs on Thursday (January 24, 2008).
 
However, animal husbandry minister Geetha Jeevan said that consumption of chicken and eggs are safe, as no H5N1 bird flu case has been reported in Tamil Nadu.