Poultry Industry’s Suggestion Rejected
INDIA - The Indian government has turned down industry suggestion for zoning of poultry areas in the country and a ban on exports of corn and soybeans. But it would consider a financial package for bailing out the poultry industry, which was affected by the recent incidence of bird flu.
31 January 2008
2 minute read
The poultry industry at a meeting with the Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on Wednesday has said that it has suffered a loss of Rs 1,000 crore since the first confirmation of bird flu in two districts of West Bengal. They said that the loss would increase further if the situation did not improve.
"The poultry industry has demanded zoning of poultry areas in the country based on geo-climatic conditions so that exports from bird flu-free zones can be business as usual, ban on export of corn and soybean to augment feed availability, 7% central government's interest subvention on loans and two-year moratorium on repayment of loans," said Anuradha Desai, chairperson of the National Egg Coordination Committee.
Pawar on being questioned about the industry's demand said : "Zoning of poultry areas would not help. The OIE, FAO and other international bodies treat the country as one zone. But I would work on a financial .package in consultations with the finance minister, P Chidambaram and the West Bengal chief minister, Buddhadev Bhattacharya."
Source: TheFinancialExpress
