Poultry industry is passing through a crucial stage warranting government's special attention, said Dr Hasan Sarosh Akram, President, Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) here on Monday. He suggested that the government should give incentives for export of poultry products as farmers are facing problems due to rumours of bird flu.
Addressing the poultry farmers businessmen in chamber auditorium, he said that if appropriate remedial measures for Rs 120 billion poultry industry were not taken it would cause huge loss to the exchequer rendering thousands jobless.
The RCCI president said that bird flu had caused huge dent to this industry, which was also marred by over-production. The rate of day-old chick is far below its production cost, hurting people especially small farmers, he added.
Dr Sarosh termed the bird flu rumours a conspiracy against the Asian poultry industry which was flourishing providing their economies a new boost. But, he said, European economic giants would not allow Asians to prosper. He said that mad cow diseases was really horrible and dangerous for human being as over 140 people died of this disease, while bird flu has no bad effects on human beings.
He said that in spite of propaganda at the highest level not a single bird flu casualty was recorded.
RCCI president said that Rawalpindi region is contributing more than 60 percent in Rs 120 billion poultry industry. He said that Rawalpindi provides 55 percent of the breeding stock for poultry due to favourable atmosphere but introduction of new technology has shifted this industry to southern Punjab.