Chicken sales drop 60 pc in Bengaluru after H5N1 virus detected at Hesaraghatta poultry farm

BENGALURU: Bird flu, or the H5N1 virus, has entered the state, sparking panic among citizens. The detection of the H5N1 virus at a governmen poultry farm in Hesaraghatta, has particularly alarmed residents of the state capital, particularly among chicken lovers. As a result, chicken sales in Bengaluru have dropped by 60 per cent.

People in Bengaluru are hesitant to buy chicken. Last Sunday in particular, only 40 per cent of the usual chicken sales were recorded. On a typical Sunday, around 12-14 lakh kg of chickens are sold. But due to bird flu fears, only about 6 lakh kg were sold last Sunday. Traders say the scare has brought business to a standstill.

Chicken shops in several villages and areas falling within a 10-kilometre radius of Hesaraghatta — including Byalakere, Guni Agrahara, Kempapura, Muddina Palya, and Soladevanahalli under the Kasaghattapura Gram Panchayat limits — have been closed.

According to Nagaraju, president of the Karnataka Poultry Traders Association, traders have submitted a request to the district administration seeking permission to reopen chicken shops. The Poultry Association has objected to this, stating that authorities can conduct inspections if needed, but shops should not be shut. They have submitted a request to the district officials in this regard.

“As per our information, the H5N1 virus was detected in native breeds like Asil and Giriraja at the Hesaraghatta poultry farm. Those were very few in number and were buried. Due to rumours, it has affected poultry farmers, workers, traders and even consumers. The government should clarify that the virus detection was not in broiler chicken”, Nagaraju said.

“On weekends, about 12 lakh kg are sold, but it dropped to only 40 per cent last Sunday. This is leading to financial duties to many people. Chicken shops in a 10-km radius of the Hesaraghatta farm have been asked to shut, but this is not right as none of the traders buy chicken from the Hesaraghatta farm, but from other districts like Doddaballapur and Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Anekal, Mysuru, etc. There is no virus detected in any other chicken and the government must clarify on this”, Nagaraju added.

Traders say the outbreak of bird flu during summer, when business is already slow, is like rubbing salt on a wound. Consumers, meanwhile, want the government to allay these fears.