Sangareddy: The poultry industry, which saved farmers during the time of prolonged drought in Medak district, is now facing an uncertain future with the prices of birds reaching an all-time low. Small farmers, who own farms with less than 5,000 birds in Toopran, Narsapur, Sangareddy and Siddipet areas, have stopped rearing the birds with the consumption in the near-by towns crashing down to almost 10 per cent.

According to Arifuddin of Unique Poultry Traders, Sangareddy, who purchases birds from the near-by villages in the mandal, the supply has almost stopped after the bird flu scare. Sangareddy town, which used to consume 1,000 kg of chicken every day, now consumes only 175 kg. Cross-border troubles

Small farmers, who have been selling the birds for Rs. 10, were hit by unscrupulous traders from across the border, who are dumping their birds in Medak district for less than Rs. 5 a bird. Much cheaper birds from Solapur and Nanded areas of Maharastra are arriving in the district in large numbers hitting the local farmers.

Chicken for the poor

Speaking to The Hindu , B. Sudhir Kumar, general manager of Suguna Poultry Farm Limited, has said that the only positive aspect of the crisis is the increased consumption of chicken among the poor. . He said that the free chicken melas organised by the poultry federation have not yielded any results. To prove his point he said that chicken shops in Jubilee Hills area of Hyderabad could sell only six birds the very next day of a mela, where people feasted on 150 kg of chicken.

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