Poultry sector losses Rs. 500M due to bird flu

By Shashidhar Parajuli,Biratnagar, Apr. 20:  Farmers have suffered direct financial losses of more than Rs. 500 million in the past month due to a bird flu outbreak that has spread to three districts of Koshi Province—Jhapa, Morang, and Sunsari.

Although the outbreak, which began in the first week of Chaitra (mid-March), has dealt a major blow to the poultry sector, farmers are being forced to bear the entire loss, as the government has not ensured compensation and insurance companies have refused to provide coverage.

According to the Livestock Development Division under the Ministry of Industry, Agriculture, and Cooperatives of Koshi Province, the infection, which started in Sundarharaicha and Urlabari in Morang, has now spread to Damak in Jhapa and to Itahari and Gadhi Rural Municipality in Sunsari.

Senior veterinary doctor Dr. Deepa Diwali from the ministry said that bird flu has been confirmed at 23 different locations in Koshi Province, and more than 100,000 infected chickens have been destroyed. 

Most of them were layers and broilers. In addition, more than 250,000 eggs and nearly 50,000 kilograms of feed had to be destroyed.

He said that Urlabari in Morang and Damak in Jhapa were the most affected areas. 

At the Athiyabari Agricultural Farm in Urlabari-8 alone, 18,000 layer chickens were destroyed, while at two large farms in Damak, 15,000 and 13,000 chickens were killed, respectively. Despite such a large amount of damage, the issue of providing compensation or relief to farmers is not a priority for the government. 

Spokesperson of the ministry Pashupati Pokharel said that initial reports of damage of Rs. 500 million have been received, but no decision has been made yet on providing compensation to the farmers. 

He admitted that the necessary budget and resources have not been secured for that.

“We are not in a position to give a clear answer to farmers who come expecting compensation,” said Pokharel.

The current situation has made farmers skeptical, especially since data collected during the lumpy skin disease outbreak two years ago—when thousands of livestock died—remains unused at the ministry, and not a single farmer has received compensation so far.

Although there is a government policy to promote agricultural insurance, insurance companies have not implemented it effectively. 

Citing the risks of epidemics, they often hesitate or refuse to insure poultry, delaying the process with various excuses. 

Spokesperson Pokharel said that despite repeated requests from the ministry, insurance companies have failed to comply with the insurance system effectively.

As a result, in the absence of livestock and crop insurance, farmers face total loss of their investment without any guarantee of compensation. 

In an agriculture-based country, farmers continue to bear the burden of losses caused by natural disasters and epidemics. 

This has led many to abandon farming altogether, while others, burdened by bank loans, are unable to recover and are pushed into severe financial distress.

Over 227,000 chickens to be culled

Meanwhile, major outbreak of bird flu has been confirmed in Sunsari Poultry Farm, the largest poultry farm of Koshi Province.

The preparations are under way to cull 155,000 chickens after bird flu infection was confirmed in Sunsari Poultry Farm. 

Similarly, the process of culling more than 227,000 chickens, including 155,000 chickens in two large farms in Koshi Province, has been initiated. 

This is the biggest incident in the history of Koshi Province in which such a large number of birds are being culled on a single farm due to bird flu infection. 

The infection was confirmed for the last time in two large farms in Ramdhuni of Sunsari and Budhiganga of Morang. The government team said that they have started culling chickens from today.

According to official, all necessary preparations have been completed to destroy 155,000 chickens at the Sunsari Poultry Farm in Ramdhuni Municipality, Sunsari, and 72,000 chickens at the Purbanchal Group farm in Budhiganga, Morang.

The Department of Animal Services had confirmed that the farm had bird flu two days ago. 

According to Dr. Manoj Kumar Mahato, Chief of the Veterinary Hospital and Animal Services Expert Center, Sunsari, 7,000 chickens have already died of the infection. 

The remaining chickens have to be killed to prevent the infection from spreading further. A large team of manpower has been mobilised to destroy such a large number of chickens.

He said that 110 workers will be deployed to kill the chickens and dig and fill the pits. Of these, 80 are currently working on the farm and 30 are being added from outside. 

This work has become very challenging for the technicians and workers, said Dr. Mahato.