TV
As many as 20,000 chickens from 43 farms in Pipili will be culled amid the bird flu scare in Odisha. According to sources, a 12-member team has been constituted to carry out the mass killing in the area to prevent the spread of the viral infection to other parts of the State.
A decision in this regard was taken after the livestock inspector visited the spot and detected avian influenza virus in the area.
Meanwhile, resentment is brewing among the poultry farmers as they are demanding adequate compensation before carrying out the mass culling of the chickens.
The irate farmers threatened not a single chicken would be allowed to be killed if they didn’t get the compensation.
“I have borrowed money from different sources and invested Rs 3 lakh for poultry farming. If my chickens will be culled then who will give me the compensation,” asked Sushant Kumar Das, a farmer.
Pradyumna Parida, secretary of Odisha Poultry Development Forum said, “We are not objecting to the decision of mass culling of the chickens. But what about the loss that farmers will incur? Who will give us the compensation?
On the other hand, the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department has assured the farmers will be compensated as per the existing guidelines issued by the Central and State governments.
“We had sent the sample to Bhopal for testing and the report came positive for the bird flu. As per the guidelines issued by the Government of India and the Government of Odisha, we need to cull all the chickens within 1 km radius. The farmers will be provided compensation as per the guidelines. While for one small chicken, they will get Rs 20, for bigger one the compensation amount is Rs 60,” said Manoj Patnaik, joint director of Directorate of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, Cuttack.
