Poultry business in crisis due to illegal import

By Bishnu Prasad Pokhrel,Damak, Jan. 30: Poultry entrepreneurs of Jhapa have requested Chief Minister of Province 1, Hikmat Kumar Karki, to stop illegal imports of Indian chickens. They made this request saying that the poultry farmers of Jhapa are being displaced from business and investment is also at high risk due to economic downturn and illegal import of Indian chicken. Bibek Niraula, President of District Poultry Business Association, Jhapa, said that the poultry business here is in crisis due to the import of live chicken and meat from India at cheap rates.

"We have drawn attention of the Chief Minister to the fact that more than half businessmen are about to be displaced from the business," he said. Poultry businessmen also said that the situation has become dire due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic recession.

Niraula said that even if the import of eggs, chickens and meat from India is stopped, the businessmen here will get a big relief. He said that about 40,000 kg of chicken is consumed daily in the district.

Niraula informed that due to the economic recession, the demand has decreased by 40 per cent and the prices have also decreased. "Until three years ago, we had 8,000 people doing poultry business, but now it has been reduced to 5,000 people," he said.

Commitment for solving problem

After hearing the complaints of the businessmen at his residence in Gauradaha, Jhapa, Chief Minister Karki has promised to address the issues raised by the poultry businessmen. "Let's discuss how to proceed to solve the problem by holding discussions with representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and related stakeholders," he said.

"It is a good news that we have become self-sufficient in chicken. We will not hesitate to encourage the businessmen here." The businessmen became excited after Karki said that he has focused on stopping illegal activities and promoting poultry business.