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Avian flu costs Rs 5.4 billion to poultry
sector
KARACHI (March 31 2004): The avian influenza has
caused an estimated loss of Rs 5.4 billion to the
poultry industry, and dampened the chances of
achieving the target growth of the livestock
sub-sector unless other contributors to the
livestock sub-sector exceed the targeted growth.
The second quarterly report for the year 2003-04
of the Central Board of the State Bank of Pakistan
(SBP) released on Tuesday quoting the Pakistan
Poultry Association said the losses to the poultry
industry to the tune of Rs 5.4 billion and related
crises have resulted into the immediate income
losses to farmers, and adversely affected the
upstream production in hatcheries, feed industry,
etc.
In Pakistan, there are around 300 million chicken
birds in the country and more than 20,000 poultry
farms between Rs 60 billion and Rs 70 billion
investment in the poultry sector.
In the wholesale market, the prices of live cull
birds had touched lowest of about 10-year at Rs 24
per kg and broiler at Rs 38-40 per kg. The prices
have started moving up and the broiler is now
available at Rs 48 to Rs 50 per kg. In some
market, the prices of live broiler has touched Rs
58 per kg.
The SBP report says in the wholesale market, the
sale price of almost all poultry products during
January-February 2004 remained far less the cost
of production for many poultry farmers.
This has led to the concern of a shortage of
poultry products in future, raising the prospects
of a sharp spike in poultry product prices when
the concerns over the bird flue subside.
The spread of the avian influenza virus has badly
affected the poultry industry in several Asian
countries, including South Korea, Japan, Vietnam,
Taiwan, Cambodia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Thailand,
and China.
Fortunately, Pakistan and Taiwan have struck by a
milder variant of the avian flue, caused by H7 and
H9 virus.
Courtesy Business Recorder |
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Pakissan.com; Advisory Point
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