Bird flu takes heavy toll on Andhra poultry sector

With the poultry products' movement coming to a halt due to the spread of bird flu in West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh's poultry sector is struggling to survive.

The ban on poultry movement in north-eastern states has already hit the Andhra producers badly. However, now

Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh governments are also planning to stop entry of poultry products to the respective states.

The ban could lead to sharp increase in the prices of egg and broiler chicken in Mumbai in the next few days.

Andhra Pradesh sends nearly 50 lakh eggs to Maharashtra every day. Sudden stoppage could trigger the price hike.

Though the ban notifications would not mention the name of any state, Andhra Pradesh is going to be the biggest sufferer of such restrictions.

Of the 5.5 crore eggs the state produces, 1.40 crore eggs go to West Bengal and North-East, and another 1.30 crore lakh to the central and northern states.

Worried, a delegation met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy to ask him to take up the issue.