Srinagar Jan 8: With banning entry of poultry into Jammu and Kashmir following the outbreak of bird flu, Kashmir is likely to face deficiency of 70 percent chicken as the region would be dependent on 3000 local farms.
In wake of the bird flu scare spreading like wildfire across the country, many state governments have banned chicken consumption in their states. The Jammu and Kashmir government has banned the entry of poultry into the union territory following the outbreak of bird flu in neighbouring Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
The ban was announced on Thursday and cane into effect from Friday.
An order issued by Navin K. Choudhary, principal secretary, agriculture and animal husbandry department, said, “In the wake of spread of bird flu in neighbouring states of J&K as a measure of abundant precaution and in view of the declaration of whole J&K as controlled area for bird flu disease, government of UT of J&K imposes complete ban on import of live birds, including poultry and unprocessed poultry meat for any purpose into the union territory of J&K with immediate effect till 14-01-2021.”
Authorities have already said that so far there was no reported incident of bird death due to bird flu in the union territory.
An official told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) that there are 3000 poultry farms in Kashmir on which people would be dependent for their consumption during the ban on imports.
“Over 400 lakh birds are imported in Kashmir annually. While over 150 lakh birds are reared locally. With ban on imports, there would be around 70 percent shortage of chicken in the valley as people would be dependent on local production,” the official said.
Kashmir is considered highest meat and chicken consuming region in the country.
Meanwhile, there are reports of scores of crows dying in Rajouri district. The authorities said they have collected samples to ascertain whether these deaths are related to bird flu or not.
Another red herring in this regard is that J&K plays host to thousands of migratory birds each winter and the spread of bird flu is primarily attributed to these migratory birds.
The wildlife department has, however, asserted that so far there were no reports of bird flu in nearly half a dozen bird sanctuaries in the union territory. (KINS)
Ban on entry of poultry into J&K: Kashmir to face 70% deficiency of chicken
