Guwahati : This is no less than good news for food lovers in Assam. Chicken and eggs are back in menu a day ahead of the Assam’s biggest feasting festival—Magh Bihu also known as the Bhogali Bihu. The Assam government has lifted the ban on sale of poultry and poultry products, which was slapped nearly two months back after the state was severely hit by the H5N1 bird flu. The outbreak of bird flu was first reported near Hajo in Kamrup district and later spread to six other districts of Assam.
The Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu is the biggest festival of feasting for the Assamese people. The festivity of the Magh Bihu starts on the eve of the first day of the month of Magh, which is on Tuesday. Director of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry department of the government of Assam AK Kotokey said that the ban has been withdrawn, except for some areas in Chirang and Baksa district of Lower Assam.
“We have lifted the ban in almost all the areas. However, the ban would continue in 10 kms radius where the culling operations had taken place,” said Kotokey while adding that nearly five lakhs birds were culled since the avian disease hit the state. The government had also destroyed eggs and poultry feed worth rupees several lakhs. Kotokey hoped that the government would soon be in a position to officially declare the state as bird flu free state.
Meanwhile, the markets in the city are now flooded with chickens and the traders are seen doing brisk business by selling poultry at higher prices. The prices of chicken have increased by Rs 50 per kg ahead of the festival. “The demand for chicken and eggs is naturally increasing as for two months there was a ban,” said Anisuddin Rahman, a poultry seller. The Poultry Farmers Association of Assam said the sector incurred a loss of an estimated Rs.180 million since the ban was imposed on November 17.
The Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu is the biggest festival of feasting for the Assamese people. The festivity of the Magh Bihu starts on the eve of the first day of the month of Magh, which is on Tuesday. Director of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry department of the government of Assam AK Kotokey said that the ban has been withdrawn, except for some areas in Chirang and Baksa district of Lower Assam.
“We have lifted the ban in almost all the areas. However, the ban would continue in 10 kms radius where the culling operations had taken place,” said Kotokey while adding that nearly five lakhs birds were culled since the avian disease hit the state. The government had also destroyed eggs and poultry feed worth rupees several lakhs. Kotokey hoped that the government would soon be in a position to officially declare the state as bird flu free state.
Meanwhile, the markets in the city are now flooded with chickens and the traders are seen doing brisk business by selling poultry at higher prices. The prices of chicken have increased by Rs 50 per kg ahead of the festival. “The demand for chicken and eggs is naturally increasing as for two months there was a ban,” said Anisuddin Rahman, a poultry seller. The Poultry Farmers Association of Assam said the sector incurred a loss of an estimated Rs.180 million since the ban was imposed on November 17.
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