Pakistan Poultry Association Multan chapter has warned the Government that there would be no bird or egg in poultry farms in next two or three months and there would be acute shortage of these items because poulterers did not put new chicks for fear of bird flue.
Talking to this correspondent, Mir Muhammad Tahir Zaidi said the poultry farmers had claimed over Rs two billion compensation from the government against culling of their chickens by the Food Ministry following the H5N1 strain outbreak and destruction of market.
He added that poultry farmers of Southern Punjab must be compensated because they were unable to repay their loans and feed cost to the dealers. He further said though federal and Punjab governments had already announced compensation of Rs five million each for the farm owners of Sihala and Tarlai areas, which according to PPA, was not enough because other areas were totally neglected. He said that adverse propaganda and speculation had destroyed our business, now they were unable to stand on their own feet in prevailing circumstances.
There are at least 2,235 poultry farms in both the affected areas; the sources said adding that the decision was made following the WHO recommendations to cull all flocks of chickens in poultry farms.