Bird Flu Outbreak Devastates Poultry Business in Koshi Province, Causing Over 50 Crore Loss

Biratnagar. The poultry (chicken farming) business in Koshi Province, already struggling due to the COVID pandemic, economic recession, and rising feed prices, has faced further crisis due to bird flu infection. In about two months since March, more than 400,000 chickens have been destroyed due to bird flu in three districts of the province – Morang, Sunsari, and Jhapa – causing financial losses exceeding 500 million rupees.

Dr. Deepa Diwali, Senior Veterinary Officer at the Department of Livestock Services and Focal Person for the Ministry of Industry, Agriculture and Cooperatives of the Koshi Provincial Government, stated that the details of the damage have been collected and sent to the federal government.

According to data provided by the Livestock Development Directorate of Koshi, a total of 412,954 chickens (birds) have been destroyed in Jhapa, Morang, and Sunsari. Farmers in Sunsari district have suffered the most damage due to bird flu.

According to the data, 286,921 chickens alone were destroyed in Sunsari. In addition, 377,080 eggs, 121,775 kg of feed, 202,700 egg crates, and 37,840 cartons were destroyed. Farmers in Sunsari alone have suffered losses amounting to 292,393,185 rupees.

Morang district, where the infection started, has also suffered significant losses. In Morang, 102,943 chickens, 127,625 eggs, and 24,838 kg of feed were destroyed. Furthermore, with 84,900 crates and 1,250 cartons also destroyed, the damage in Morang amounts to 177,203,711 rupees, according to the data.

In Jhapa district, 23,090 chickens, 97,450 eggs, 10,465 kg of feed, 24 crates, and 120 cartons were destroyed. The total loss in Jhapa is 33,423,535 rupees.

Overall, across all three districts, a total of 412,954 chickens, 602,155 eggs, 157,078 kg of feed, 287,624 crates, and 39,210 cartons have been destroyed. The total loss incurred by poultry entrepreneurs in the three districts is 503,020,431 rupees.

The outbreak came to light when chickens suddenly started dying at Halesi Mahadev Krishi Farm in Sundarharaincha-4, Morang, on March 3. Samples of the dead chickens were collected and sent to Kathmandu for testing. Immediately on March 4, bird flu was confirmed at a chicken farm in Urlabari Municipality-8. The disease then spread like wildfire.

Bird flu first entered Nepal in January 2006 in Kakarbhitta, Jhapa. At that time, the disease was controlled by destroying about 28,000 chickens. Farmers say that the bird flu infection, which has appeared sporadically since then, has become even more devastating this year.

With billions invested in the poultry industry and thousands of jobs created, this wave of bird flu has crippled the business. Despite the government's claims of timely relief distribution and effective control measures, farmers are disheartened and worried. "Farms were run with loans of lakhs and crores from banks. When the infection appeared just as the chickens were ready for sale or laying eggs, they were killed. Now, entrepreneurs are on the verge of destitution. If the government does not provide appropriate compensation immediately, farmers will have no option but to commit suicide," said Hom Baskota, Chairman of the Layer Chicken Farmers Association Morang-Sunsari.

Dr. Deepa Diwali, Senior Veterinary Officer at the Department of Livestock Services and Focal Person for the Ministry, informed that the detailed report of the losses incurred by poultry entrepreneurs has been sent to the federal government. According to her, layers, broilers, local breeds of chickens, and eggs have been destroyed due to bird flu. She also stated that feed and other materials on the farm were destroyed along with the chickens.

The law provides for the government to provide relief to farmers affected by bird flu. "The compensation process will be carried out in accordance with the federal government's Bird Flu Disease Control Regulations," she said. "The regulations provide for compensation for livestock and materials destroyed by the government team during disease control. We have sent the details of the damage assessment sent by the District Rate Determination Committee to the federal government."

However, she admitted that it will take some time to receive this relief due to the cumbersome government process. Currently, the ministry is preparing to collect the final details of the destroyed chickens and materials and recommend them to the federal government. Farmers are demanding that the government provide compensation quickly and transparently as a balm for their lost investments.