April 27, 2005

Small poultry farmers in Thailand badly hit by bird flu

The bird flu in Thailand has had a heavy toll on the poultry industry, and many small farmers in the Chao Phaya region have nothing but empty or poorly stocked farms to show for it.

From January through March this year, 49 people have died from the disease and last year, 70 million chickens and ducks were destroyed as a preventive measure.

However, the compensation given by the government was not enough for the farmers affected by the intensive culling to recoup their losses, let alone follow through with government requirements that include having to rebuild the entire henhouse. As a result, many farmers operating on a small scale have gone out of business.

On the other hand, major breeders have been able to concentrate and expand their operations. This has led to concerns about whether the increase in mass concentrations of poultry would raise the risk of bird flu infections.