Bengaluru: While neighbouring Andhra Pradesh has witnessed a sharp decline in chicken and egg sales following the recent outbreak of bird flu (H5N1), Karnataka is also seeing a similar trend though the state has not seen any cases of Avian influenza A.
The poultry farmers’ association put the dip in sales at a marginal 5%, but vendors on the ground say the fall is in the range of 30% to 50%.
Poultry farmers’ representatives attributed the dip in chicken sales to fear among residents because of fake news on social media and the Mahashivaratri festival.
Manjesh Kumar Jadav, vice-president, Karnataka Poultry Farmers and Breeders Association, said: “We haven’t reported or seen any bird flu cases so far in the state. But despite that, there has been a slight dip of 5% in chicken and egg sales. There are numerous posts on social media, and people are hesitant to consume poultry. While there is no panic, these rumours have impacted sales. Even the upcoming Mahashivaratri festival has had a minor effect.”
Karnataka has about 20,000 poultry farmers, and on an average basis, four crore broilers are produced every year.
The bird flu rumours have also raised concerns among non-vegetarian consumers.
MD Hamid, a poultry vendor from Jayanagar, said: “We used to have two vans come in a week with eggs, but now it has reduced to one van per week. Our sales have reduced a bit too, which did affect a bit of our income. The number of customers dropping by for purchasing meat and eggs have also gone down by 20%-30% in the last two weeks. After this bird flu news, customers are often asking multiple questions about the source, quality and freshness of the products as they were also a bit hesitant and scared.”
Altaf Sayyad, a poultry vendor from HSR Layout, said: “On the weekends, I sold 120kg of chicken, but for the last two weeks, it has come down to 60kg. There is also less footfall of consumers even on weekends, but we do have normal supply going to our regular customers who buy chicken in bulk for restaurants.”
Deepthi S, a II-year B.Com student and resident of Tavarekere, said: “I usually consume egg and chicken-based products thrice a week, but now I’m trying to reduce my intake after hearing about the bird flu. I’m inclining towards alternatives like mutton and pork for now. I’m a bit hesitant to purchase chicken from shops that sell directly to consumers in their raw form.”
Naveen Reddy, an IT professional and resident of Indiranagar, said: “I witnessed similar news in the previous few years too, and during these times, my family and I often shift to pork or mutton, thinking it’s better and there is no harm in being cautious. During such outbreaks, it is wise to not consume chicken as we are not aware of the ways to know if the bird is infected with the virus or not.”
-Ishita Banerjee
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