Covid 19 impact: All India Poultry Breeders Association seeks package to tackle economic losses

New Delhi: A delegation of All India Poultry Breeders Association Chairman led by IB Group MD, Bahadur Ali, met Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman last Thursday (19^th March 2020) and sought government intervention to alleviate the sufferings of poultry industry hit by COVID 19 in the country.

The delegation which included B Soundarajan, MD, Suguna Holdings (Tamil Nadu0, Suresh Chitturi, Vice President, All Indian Poultry Breeders Association (Telangana), Gulrez Alam, Director, IB Group (Chhattisgarh) updated the Finance Minister about the ongoing crises and huge financial loss poultry farmers facing due to the outbreak of Coronavirus. Rajya Sabha member from Chhattisgarh, Saroj Pandey was also present on this occasion.

“She assured the delegation that timely support to the Industry would be extended”, said Bahadur Ali.

The central government has announced setting up a ‘COVID19 Economic Response Task Force’ to look into economic losses that arose due to the outbreak of the global pandemic in India and suggest measures to revive the economy.

Fake WhatsApp news linking the outbreak of novel coronavirus to chickens has adversely impacted the Indian poultry market. By the first of the week of March, many farmers across India were distress selling their birds for Rs10-Rs20 each, nearly rs 70-80 less than the normal price. The price of eggs also dropped from Rs 48 to Rs 24 a dozen.  The association claims that the crisis had cost the industry Rs1.6 billion a day.

In an effort to quell the rumors, the Union Animal Husbandry Minister, Giriraj Singh issued a statement denying that the virus could be caused by the consumption of egg or chicken.

The association appreciated the efforts of Singh and his department to send a positive message to dispel false information spread through social media.

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