Chitwan poultry farmers unaware of bio-security measures

CHITWAN, July 6: Poultry farmers in Chitwan are using antibiotics haphazardly even though use of antibiotic in poultry farming is prohibited in many European countries.

While many farmers do not have any idea about bio-security, some farmers are not adopting bio-security standards even though they are aware of it.

"Most of the farmers enter their farms without changing their clothes and shoes," poultry expert Hom Bahadur Basnet said, adding, "This is sheer negligence. It will harm poultry farming in the long run."

Speaking at an interaction at Ratnanagar of Chitwan on Monday, Basnet said that there is no point in attending security-related programs in the future farmers they do not adopt bio-security standards.Basnet said he has not used antibiotics in poultry farm and feeds for the past five years.

"If bio-security standards are not adopted, viruses can easily enter poultry farms through clothes and other belongings of farmers," he said, adding, "Though use of antibiotic has been banned in poultry farms in Europe, it is used haphazardly in Nepal as we trust antibiotic more than other safety measures."

Ram Kumar Karki, chief of Livestock Services Office of Chitwan, agreed with Basnet and urged poultry farmers to adopt bio-security standards at the earliest.

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