June 5, 2006

Indian states fight over bird flu
 

While most countries are uniting to rid the scourge of bird flu, the disease is causing much animosity among 3 Indian states. 

Poultry farmers in Punjab and those between the regions of Jammu and Kashmir have been squabbling over the sale of chickens due to bird flu.

Jammu and Kashmir has placed an unofficial ban on chicken from Punjab, citing food safety reasons while Punjabi farmers have retaliated by halting feed supplies to the formers' poultry farms, endangering the 2 million chickens in Jammu and Kashmir.

Rajinder Mittal, a spokesman from the All India Poultry Farmers Welfare Association, said the feed ban imposed by some farmers in the border area of Punjab is largely symbolic.

Despite the threat of cut off of feed supplies, poultry farmers in Kashmir felt justified in banning the birds from Punjab as they feel they are in danger of spreading the disease. Many felt that Punjab should not have resorted to halting feed supplies, as it had a great impact not only among the local poultry industry but on the general economy as well, said Ahmad Khan, president of the Kashmir Poultry Farmers Union.

Officials from the two state governments have met to resolve the issue.

Punjab's farmers have said they would send poultry feed to Jammu and Kashmir, and are awaiting a reciprocal action from Jammu and Kashmir.