The poultry sector in Bhopal is facing another major crisis in under a year. First, COVID, and now avian influenza has led to a decline in the sale of chicken and eggs in the state capital. 

The sale nosedived in the last four days, say shopkeepers. Poultry dealers are concerned over the losses that they are expected to face if the current trend continues. A poultry farm owner said, “We are self-reliant as far as chicken and eggs are concerned. Chicken eggs supplied in Bhopal and neighbouring districts are produced in Bhopal only.”

He said about 7 lakh eggs are produced in Bhopal and about 4 lakh are consumed in Bhopal. The remaining eggs are consumed in neighbouring districts. The chicken was sold at the rate of Rs70 a kg in Bhopal on Monday as the sale declined to almost 50%, said Inamurehman, a poultry farm owner in Bhopal.

Rajendra Singh, a poultry farm owner and office-bearer of the city unit of the National Eggs Coordination Committee, said: “It is wrong to link this avian influenza with consumption of eggs and chicken.”

Despite assurances, some consumers are sceptical, “It is better to be safe than sorry. We can give up consumption of chicken and eggs for a while to be on the safer side,” said Siddharth Singh, a resident of Arera Colony.

While there are others who continue to consume poultry products. “The sales are down by 50 per cent”, said Raja Ahuja, “it means 50 % product is still being sold. It also means that a large number of people are consuming it without falling ill."

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