The New Nation - Internet Edition

THE World Bank has termed avian influenza as a major challenge to the poultry sector. The disease has already affected poultry in 42 out of 64 districts. In a recent report presented at a seminar, the World Bank said the occurrence of avian influenza and destruction of the birds hit the industry, which was playing a significant role in the country's fight against poverty. The culling of fowls has risen to nearly a million since the outbreak of avian influenza last year. A similar number of eggs of poultry farms have also been destroyed. The flu has caused losses of about Taka 5,500 crore to the poultry sector, according to a preliminary report.

In this regard, a 'poultry coordination committee' formed by the government with leaders of the sector and officials concerned, has completed the report that dealt with the losses caused since February 2007 when the first case of avian influenza was detected. Nearly one lakh poultry farms have been so far shut down due to the outbreak. Panic has spread among the people. There were some 22 crore poultry birds in about 1.80 lakh farms in the country and 50 lakh people were involved in the sector. Adverse effect has gone to such an extent that production of day-old chick came down to 35 lakh per week from 65 lakh last year. The flu has ravaged the rising poultry industry incurring huge losses.

The Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association (BPIA) has demanded immediate import of 'inactivated vaccine' to combat 'H5N1' type virus and 'recombinant vaccine' to protect broiler, cockerel, and layer chickens. It has also demanded bank loans on easy term for affected poultry farms and owners of the feed mills. The World Bank report said small-scale commercial producers needed improved technical knowledge of intensive poultry production to save the birds from endemic diseases.