Thousands of businesses including small and large have quit this business citing insecurity due to bird flu outbreak. [break]
The businesspersons said that loss in poultry sector that contributes nearly 4 per cent to the country´s GDP is likely to cause a big loss to the economy.
The businesspersons have also complained lack of appropriate steps to control the bird flu from the government side.
Chairman of Eggs Producers´ Association Shiva Ram KC said that poultry farmers´ years long efforts went in vein after the bird flu outbreak.
KC said Nepal´s poultry business was pushed four decade back due to this year´s bird flu outbreak.
Consumption of chicken has decreased not because of death of fowls but because of rumors spread in the market, KC added.
Likewise, Chairman of Nepal Chicken Market Management Association Shankar Kandel said that supply of chicken and eggs to the capital city from Chitwan is almost zero at present.
He said daily supply of chicken from Chitwan to Kathmandu valley used to stand at 15 to 20 tonnes in the past.
According to the Nepal Poultry Entrepreneurs Forum, a total of Rs 50 billion investment has been made in the poultry business and out of that banks and financial institutions have invested nearly Rs 25 billion.
Chitwan district covers half of the total national investment in poultry business.
Chairman of Chitwan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dr Til Chandra Bhattarai, who is also a poultry entrepreneur, said that bird flu outbreak will have a serious impact in poultry business this year and the farmers are likely to face serious blow if the state fails to bring relief packages in time.
However, the poultry entrepreneurs have said that the business could gain its previous position if the government waives the total interest amount and provides loan at subsidized interest rate. \
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