By IANS
Ranchi : The outbreak of avian influenza in neighbouring West Bengal has hit poultry sales in Jharkhand and sent fish and mutton prices soaring even though no bird flu case has been reported in the state.
The price of broiler chicken has gone down from Rs.70 per kilogram at the beginning of this year to just Rs.35-40 a kg.
Mohammad Salam, a wholesale chicken seller, said: “We have suffered a major blow after the outbreak of bird flu in West Bengal. The number of people buying chickens has declined sharply. The state government has also banned the import of chickens.”
However, the prices of fish and mutton are rising. The prices of Rohu and Katla varieties of fish have shot up from Rs.60-65 to Rs.100-120 per kilogram. The price of mutton has gone up from Rs.140-150 to Rs.190-210 per kilogram.
Shakil Ansari, a mutton seller, said: “Before the outbreak of bird flu I was selling around 30 to 40 kg of mutton per day. Now I sell about 70 to 80 kg per day. We are finding it difficult to meet the demand. The demand has gone up due to two reasons. First is the bird flu and second is the marriage season.”
Chicken lovers are having a tough time due to the bird flu outbreak as fear is keeping them away from poultry products.
“I like only chicken among non-vegetarian food items. I have no liking for fish and doctors have asked me not to consume red meat because my urea level is high,” said Appu Banerjee, a Ranchi resident.