Rajahmundry : Bird flu scare has gripped East Godavari district from where the number of poultry exports in the State is maximum. Farmers of 220 poultries located in Anaparti, Dwarapoodi and Bikkavoulu in the district are panicky over the prevailing situation.

The Animal Husbandry Department has confirmed that there are no symptoms of the virus in any of the poultries in the district. However, the scare has badly affected exports as well as sale of chicken.

Main hatcheries

The egg production in the district is around one crore per day and it is exported to Uttar Pradesh. 30 per cent of birds are used as meat and rest for egg production. The main hatcheries in the district belong to Venkateswara and Srinivasa Hatcheries and most of the farming community in Anaparti constituency is dependent on the poultry business along with rice production. "Bird flu definitely has an affect on our area. Farmers lost business of about Rs.3 crores just in three days. I came to know that sale of chicken has dropped drastically," says Tetali Rama Reddy, MLA of Anaparti constituency.

Directive to officials

District Collector Praveen Prakash has asked Joint Director of Animal Husbandry Department T. Reddy Rao and Deputy Director Livingston to take stock of the situation in the district.

The Joint Director along with Patro, Assistant Director for Health, toured six poultries in the district and called a meeting of farmers in the district, mainly from Anaparti constituency.

"Coringa Bird Sanctuary in East Godavari is the only area from where there is a rare possibility of carrying the bird flu virus to poultry farms," says Dr. Livingston.

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