Pakistan has been quiet on the flu front, but its poultry farmers are still fighting for their lives. Via The News: Poultry industry demands interest-free loans. Excerpt:
The Poultry Association of Pakistan has presented their budget proposals for 2008. Abdul Basit, Chairman Central zone stated that to ensure the revival of the poultry sector to meet the requirements of poultry meat and eggs, which is growing at an average rate of 2 per cent, the following policy decisions need to be taken immediately.
Failing which, the poultry sector would be subjected to total collapse, which implies a collapse of Rs200 billion in investments.
There has been a huge loss of Rs30-35 billion during 2006/07 due to the bird flu rumours to the Poultry Sector. It would be more advisable that interest free loans up to Rs1 million be given and mark-up should be picked up by the government, as an incentive to small and medium size poultry farmers.
50 per cent Subsidy on imported Vaccination of (H5N1) vaccine should be sanctioned. Vaccination of (H5N1) vaccine in the areas, where there has been an out break of the disease (50KM around) is essential for poultry farmers. It is suggested that 3 Million doses should always be made readily available in Veterinary Research Institute, Lahore to tackle the situation in time.
Law needs to be enforced for ensuring registration of new poultry farms. NOC for constructing new poultry farms must be gotten through Secretary Livestock & Dairy Development Departments of all provinces, in accordance with the following guidelines: Distance at least 1KM from another poultry farm, to 3KM from hatcheries and breeding farms.
The small and medium size poultry farmers who don’t have B-I or B-II connections and have lower loads are charged 100 per cent of the electricity consumption at the Commercial Tariff A-II. Since they are in a productive activity, the application of the Commercial Tariff is unjustified.
It is therefore requested that they should be charged at Industrial tariff as Poultry industry is a segment of agriculture and same tariff, which is applied on tube wells, be applied on poultry farms.
It is requested that a handsome amount for a public awareness campaign be allocated in the budget bill, so that a comprehensive public awareness campaign can be chalked out at the Government level to create awareness about Bird Flu amongst the general public. It is also requested that special rebate be allowed for advertisements on TV & Print media for public awareness on nutrition related health issues.
Disasters in Burma and China have reminded us that a chief function of government is to protect its people. No protection, no legitimacy. Pakistan's poultry farmers shouldn't even have to ask for support like this. Everyone in a hot-zone poultry industry should expect such support.
