By NNN-PTI
New Delhi : The Centre is likely announce two packages – one for the farmers in the bird-flu hit West Bengal state and the other for poultry industry – in the next 8-10 days, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said Wednesday.
“There are two proposals we are considering,” Pawar said on the sidelines of a function here. There would be two packages, one for West Bengal and other for the rest of India.
He pointed out that situation in West Bengal is different from that of Maharashtra in 2006 because of backyard poultry, Pawar said: “The number of birds in a family is very limited. Families are also very poor. That’s why we have to see what type of package one has to provide,” he said.
He assured that whatever is required for West Bengal, the state government and Centre would work together.
“West Bengal Chief Minister has sent a proposal to me that he would like to provide some financial support to the affected families, those who are keeping backyard poultry. I am considering that also,” he said, adding that any decision would require Cabinet approval.
Pawar said there had been substantial impact on prices of poultry products in the country as a whole, which has affected the poultry industry throughout the country, and therefore it needs a different approach.
When asked about the ban imposed by the West Bengal government on movement of poultry from the state, he said: “It’s the first time that such a decision has been taken. I will try to understand what is the thinking behind the decision before reacting”.
The culling operations in WB are nearly over, Pawar said, adding that as a precautionary measure, the government has decided to undertake culling operations in the 5 km radius of bordering states of West Bengal like Bihar and Jharkand.