February 23, 2007

Indonesia's ban on backyard poultry draws protests from residents

Indonesia's month-old ban on backyard poultry in the capital Jakarta has invoked protests from its residents as a substantial number depend on raising such poultry as a main source of income or a way to supplement it.

Some houseowners, who used to have as many as 20 chickens in their flocks, has criticised the government for depriving them of a source of much needed income.

A chicken can be sold for 60,000 to 70,000 rupiahs (US$6.60 to US$7.70 each), a substantial sum for low-income families who raised such flocks. 

According to WHO figures, Indonesia has the world's highest number of fatalities from bird flu. The ban on backyard poultry in Jakarta that came into effect early this month allows authorities to carry out door-to-door checks and cull poultry with no compensation paid to their owners.

Efforts to control the spread of bird flu is very necessary, Central Jakarta Mayor Muhayat said in a media statement, adding that bird flu infection has nearly reached its third stage, the stage where it spreads from poultry to people, he said.

He warned that there would be disastrous consequences if infections were to spread between people.

Some homeowners however, have defied the ban as chickens are simply too important a source of income to be given up. For many Indonesians, keeping a few chickens in their backyard is a way of life that provides a bulwark against starvation in times of economic crisis.

At the same time, the ban on raising poultry has also caused many residents to greatly reduce chicken consumption despite assurances that chickens cooked well are safe. Residents are turning to other foods such as tofu and salted fish for their protein sources.

The fear of eating chickens has raised concerns in the FAO, which is worried about the impact of the ban on the nutritional needs of the city's residents. James McGrane, FAO team leader of the avian influenza control programme in Indonesia, urged residents not to abandon a valuable source of nutrition just because they have been forbidden to raise poultry of their own.