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| Sunday, 26 February 2006 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Chicken and eggs absolutely safe by Gamini Warushamana Chicken and eggs in Sri Lanka are one hundred percent safe and there is no need to panic. This assurance was given by the All Island Poultry Association, as a new shock wave affected the industry after an outbreak of bird flu was reported in India last week. "Consumers and farmers are panicky over the scare of the spread of the disease to Sri Lanka, but the chance of the disease spreading to Sri Lanka is very remote, Chairman of the Association Dr. D. D. Wanasinghe told the Sunday Observer. Chicken and eggs in the Sri Lankan market are 100% local products. Sri Lanka does not import poultry products from India or any other country. Earlier some big restaurants and food processing companies imported poultry products from India, but it was suspended eight months ago, Dr. Wanasinghe said. Soon after the outbreak of the bird flu in India, first reported last Sunday the Sri Lankan market suffered and the price of fresh chicken fell by Rs. 20 per Kg and eggs by Re. 1 each as demand fell. The Bird flu has affected the poultry industry in many countries and hit the world economy. It is said that the impact of the disease is similar to a large natural disaster, high oil price or strong dollar. The panic created by the media about bird flu will have an adverse effect on the poultry industry according to poultry industrialists. They have appealed to the media and the authorities to work with national responsibility. Our poultry products are 100% safe. The virus does not spread through cooked meals. From 2003, only 125 people had been infected and 67 people died in the world due to the disease. Therefore the fear in consuming chicken and eggs is baseless and the fear is being spread by the media, said the Chairman of Farms Pride (Pvt) Ltd Mohomed Imitiaz. Sri Lanka is an island and therefore the chance of the virus spreading to the country is very remote. In most cases the disease spreads through poultry products imported or through land borders. One possible way of the virus spreading to the country is from migratory birds, but now the migratory birds are leaving the country, Dr. Wanasinghe said. The other possible way was through imported animal feeds and considering the threat maize imports from India were suspended immediately. However, Sri Lanka imports 90% of maize requirements from India and the suspension cannot be continued. There is a possibility of the virus contaminating maize as in India maize is dried on roadsides and in farm compounds. The health authorities have taken preventive measures to avert the virus entering the country. As a remedy the Department of Animal Production and Health has decided to fumigate all consignments of maize imports from India thrice. However, the authorities are now in touch with the WHO whether the over use of the chemical in fumigation is toxic to the birds. The Rs. 84 billion poultry industry in the country is 95% rural based and 75,000 families are engaged in the industry. Another 200,000 people are engaged in indirect jobs related to the poultry industry. Chicken and eggs are the cheapest and easily available animal protein in the country and the annual per capita chicken and egg consumption is 4.5 Kg and 54 eggs. In addition to the drop in demand, animal food prices will be increased as a result of extra fumigation and other precautions. The industry is seeking government's immediate intervention to check the price increase. Dr. Wanasinghe has called upon the government to waive the 20% cess on maize imports imposed from April 2004 with immediate effect. The poultry industry is the only farm industry taxed by the government and we pay Rs. 184 million tax annually, Dr. Wanasinghe said. |
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