December 27, 2012

A total ban on import of layer birds into Kashmir was demanded by the Kashmir Valley Poultry Farmers' Association, alleging that they were the cause of spreading dangerous infections.

The office bearers of the association led by its president G M Bhat on Tuesday (Dec 25) held a meeting with Director, Animal Husbandry, here, apprising him about various problems the poultry farmers were facing in Kashmir.

The farmers said they had suffered heavy pecuniary losses due to 'RKD' infection which had increased the mortality in birds. Bhat said the infection had destroyed the poultry sector of Kashmir "due to which the farmers suffered heavy financial losses."

Bhat demanded that the poultry sector in Kashmir should be given the industry status so that people involved in it get some benefits.

He said thousands of unemployed educated youth who have set up their poultry farms had not been given any support by the government. "The poultry sector has absorbed thousands of youth in Kashmir. There are also thousands of youth who are working as wholesalers, retailers, feed suppliers, and in hatcheries, medicine companies, etc., who are earning their livelihood from this sector. But it is unfortunate that the government is not treating this vital sector as industry."

"Government should help poultry farmers by giving them suitable compensation in this time of financial crisis," he added.

The delegation also demanded insurance cover for poultry farming. "We impressed upon the Director Animal Husbandry to set up district-/tehsil-wise modern diseases investigation labs, so that any diseases in poultry is checked at proper time," Bhat said. The delegation also demanded mandis in every district in Kashmir "so that poultry farmers are able to sell their products at wholesale rates."

Bhat said the Director of Animal Husbandry, acceded to their request and agreed to constitute district-/tehsil-wise teams immediately which will assess the loss to the poultry in the districts and forward their loss assessment statements to higher authorities for compensation.