Poultry Industry Message Issued in Public Interest

 

In the last few days, Bird flu (bird fever) has been confirmed in wild and migratory birds in some states of the country.  Confusion and fear is being spread due to knowledge / ignorance about the poultry industry / products regarding bird flu found in wild and migratory birds.  Poultry Farmers Broilers Welfare Federation would like to draw your attention to the confusing information and rumors circulating in relation to poultry industry, poultry products - chicken and eggs, poultry birds, wild birds (crow, pigeon, duck, parrot, peacock, bird etc.) and migratory birds   in the following points: -

1. Since the year 2006, this virus has been discussed every year, but till date no person has got fever due to this virus.  In our country, migratory birds have the season  to come every year between September and March.  We all know that we have no control over the arrival of wild and migratory birds.  It is common for birds and migratory birds to die due to flu virus infection or extreme cold and hot weather.

2.  In poultry farms, birds are reared using many precautionary measures sheds/poultry houses are used to keep the birds, they have to follow the necessary vaccine, farm management, bio-security rules as per the World Animal Health Organization and the Government's Guidelines. Poultry birds are in no means comparable with wild and migratory birds.  Combining poultry birds/products with wild and migratory birds and displaying poultry farms/birds in broadcast photos means destroying the Poultry Industry and eradication of farmers / traders and making agriculture for the farmers of the country difficult.

3. Indian poultry industry is connected with marginal, small, middle scale farmers and small businessmen of rural, semi-urban and urban areas, the industry has an annual turnover of more than Rs 1.5 lakh crore, which provides direct employment to more than 10 lakh people. Poultry birds increase the income of more than 2 crore agricultural farmers by consuming more than 70% of maize, millet, and 90% of  soybean, mustard, groundnut, sunflower, etc. and  more than 80% of the countrymen get the cheapest source of protein  nutrition (chicken and eggs) i.e. the cheapest immunity booster. Poultry products have the highest amount of protein available.

4. Indian poultry industry was ranked third in egg production and fifth in chicken production in the world before Corona. But in Corona era, the whole industry was rocked by the rumours spread before the lockdown "Corona infection due to eating chicken and  eggs".  Later when people came to know the truth, that the rumour is false and eating chicken and eggs does not cause corona infection and it's a good and cheap source of immunity.  Since then, hardly 40% of the industry has been able to stand.  The the poultry industry being stoned resulted in the drop in the Maize MSP and the farmers had to sell at Rs 700 - 800 per quintal instead of Rs 1850 per quintal and the current recorded  price was Rs 1200-1300 per quintal. 

5. According to doctors, the bird-flu virus cannot survive at temperatures above 35°C and is completely destroyed up to 70°C.  Apart from this,  in our country nonveg is cooked with a lot of spices  in which turmeric, ginger, garlic, onion, black pepper, large cardamom, nutmeg, javatri etc. are used and the preparation is cooked/boiled at temperatures above 100°C.  Therefore the consumption is completely safe.

 6- The Honorable Animal Husbandry Minister of India, Shri Giriraj Singh Ji has apprised the country about the situation and refuted the false rumors. Other well-known doctors of the country have also ensured that Indian poultry products are completely safe and should be consumed only after proper cooking.

Therefore, we appeal to the countrymen/eggs and chicken consumers.There is no fear in eating the products of Indian poultry, pay no heed to the rumors, enjoy chicken and eggs consumption and you are requested to provide this information to all your loved ones and all those you know .

F. M. Sheikh

President, Poultry Farmers Broilers Welfare Federation

Phone: 9695946525; 9936798845