March 4, 2004

Pakistan Poultry Farms Close Following Bird Flu

A number of poultry farms in Swabi, Pakistan, have closed as a result of the outbreak of bird flu in the area.

Despite there being no evidence of bird flu in the district, consumers have shunned chicken even though prices registered a 30% decline in recent weeks.

Farmers said no evidence had been found about the presence of the bird flu virus in the district. They said news of the bird flu had destroyed their business and if the situation continued it would force them to go bankrupt.

The poultry farmers said in the given circumstances it was not possible for them to continue their business. "We can't afford to purchase feed at exorbitant rates and sell chickens at throwaway prices," they maintained.

"I have closed my poultry farm and now considering switching to some other business," Farooq Khan of Palodand said and added that those who were still running their farms wondered how could they survive.

The poultry farmers said spring was not only a wedding season, it also provided their business a good beginning, but people had started excluding chicken items from wedding menu.

"A few days ago, two tobacco companies arranged big ceremonies to launch the tree plantation campaign in which they offered beef and mutton. Last year the same companies had spent Rs10,000 on buying of chickens. This shows where we stand now and how much loss has we have incurred," said a chicken seller.