KARACHI, March 16: The poultry industry is seeking finances on low mark up to re-establish itself in the post-bird flu crisis period. The crisis has turned the economics of the entire sector upside down.

"The country's poultry industry sustained Rs20 billion losses leaving little room for its recovery under normal business conditions and financial support," a spokesman of the industry Maruf Siddiqui told Dawn on Monday.

The government will have to come up with special revival package for the poultry industry if it wants to ensure cheap protein enrich diet for the masses. Above all he said in the absence of chicken in the market prices of mutton and fish had increased.

There was a growing realization among business circles that since the industry had suffered heavily from the bird flu, it would have to be rehabilitated. It is felt that with generous support the poultry sector could now be organized on modern lines and on better techniques.

"I would say it is a blessing in disguise as the industry would now have the opportunity to re-establish itself afresh by adopting modern methods and marketing techniques," another poultry dealer said.

From the platform of the Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (Unisame) the poultry industry has put forward some suggestions which could help in the revival of the industry.

Besides seeking financial support at a low mark up rate, the industry strongly feels that leasing facilities on no equity basis and at 6 per cent mark up be provided for purchase of plant including cold storage and vehicles.

It has also been demanded that there should be insurance cover for the birds which could help the industry from sustaining such huge losses at any critical juncture or event. Government-supervised vocational programmes should be launched and supply of medicines and feeds at economical rates be assured.

Maruf Siddiqui also said that initially the industry sustained losses to the tune of Rs70 to 80 crores from the bird flu as 35 lakh to 40 lakh birds died. But the actual financial losses were suffered later as chicken and egg prices came crashing and the consumers stopped buying these items.

How an industry could survive if prices tumbled from Rs70 per kg for chicken to Rs25 per kg which had now started stabilizing at Rs40 per kg, he added. Similarly, he said that egg prices came down to Rs630 per crate of 360 eggs against the actual cost of Rs750. In November-December when bird flu just began eggs were being sold at Rs1300 per crate of 360 eggs.

The prices of one-day chicks had also fallen from Rs15-Rs20 to Rs4 only and if the government did not come forward to salvage the industry, he said the industry would not be able to revive for a longer term which will deprive the consumer from nutritious diet.

The Unisame convener Zulfikar Thaver said that chicken was an important item on the menu and if it was in short supply the prices of meat and fish went up as was being witnessed now a days. He further said that mutton was being sold at Rs200 to Rs225 per kg while beef at Rs110 per kg.

DAWN