Feburary 1, 2008

India government rejects poultry area zoning within the country
 

India's Union Government has rejected the suggestions for zoning of poultry areas in the country and a ban on corn and soy exports, but it would consider financial aid for the poultry industry, which has been adversely affected by the recent bird flu attack.

At a meeting with the Union agriculture minister, Sharad Pawar on Wednesday (January 30, 2008), the poultry industry said it has suffered a loss of Rs 10 billion (US$254 million) since the bird flu infection in West Bengal and that they will suffer more losses if the situation do not improve.

Chairperson of the National Egg Coordination Committee, Anuradha Desai, said zoning has been asked for so that poultry producers in bird flu-free zones will not be penalised while the ban on corn and soy export is to ensure that feed will be available to the local poultry industry.

However, Pawar is of the opinion that zoning is not helpful as international organisations treat the country as one single zone.

On the other hand, he said he would work on an improved financial package with the finance minister and the West Bengal chief minister.

Meanwhile, the poultry industry refused offers of vaccination from the US. Desai said foreign vaccines would not help against the local H5N1 strain but would instead complicate matters.