Srinagar: Valley-based poultry farm owners Saturday said that the government has so far not issued any advisory vis-à-vis bird-flu in Kashmir, stating they would instantly ‘windup’ their farms in case of the ‘outbreak’ of the virus in poultry products.
“We cannot put people’s lives at risk; hence we have decided to windup our farms in case bird-flu was confirmed in poultry products. So far there is no report of any such virus in Kashmir hence people need not to panic unnecessarily,” Kashmir Valley Poultry Farms Association (KVPFA) general secretary, Farooq Ahmad Dar told news agency.
He said bird-flu has only been confirmed in crows and migratory birds in four districts of Kashmir while poultry products were declared safe. Dar said nearly five lakh people across Jammu and Kashmir will lose work incase bird-flu is confirmed in poultry products.
He said the Union Territory administration instantly lifted ban on the import of poultry to Jammu and Kashmir after rumors regarding outbreak of bird-flu proved wrong.
Dar said had there been any case of bird-flu confirmed, administration would have issued an advisory asking poultry farm owners to discontinue sale of poultry.
“There is absolutely no reason to worry as bird-flu has not been confirmed yet, had this been the case, we would have been asked to discontinue supply. Centre ordered to reopen Ghaziabad Mandi after it was confirmed that poultry products are safe from bird-flu,” Dar added.
He said it has also not been confirmed as to what type of influenza was found in dead crows and migratory birds in some parts of the valley. He said poultry is imported only after confirmation certificate from the supplier that there is no threat of bird-flu within ten kilometer range of the farm.
“Bird-flu was not tested in any part of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir or other big markets like Haryana or Punjab. We appeal to the people not to fall prey to rumors as bird-flu has not been confirmed in poultry products,” he said.
