The Hindu Business Line : Arambagh Hatcheries eyes overseas market

KEEN to turn a threat into opportunity, the city-based Arambagh Hatcheries, one of the bigger players in the organised poultry industry, is now eyeing market in countries such as Japan.

These markets were being catered to by some of the South-East Asian countries, now afflicted by the virus and if good prices are available, Arambagh could cater to the export market, sources told Business Line.

Arambagh, which produces seven lakh chicks every week at its farms in the districts of Birbhum, Purulia and Bankura, has stepped up its sanitation and hygiene practices at its farms.

Bengal sets up bird flu team: The West Bengal Government has set up a five-member team led by the Animal Husbandry Department Secretary and the Director to guard against any case of bird flu occurring in the State.

Sources said this team would carry out vigilance exercises at the various poultry farms in the State and create awareness about the guidelines given by the Centre to check against the disease, which brings with its onset high temperature in humans along with diarrhoea and convulsions.

"Any case of bird flu is to be reported to the National Centre for Animal Emergency in New Delhi," the State Animal Husbandry Minister, Mr Anisur Rahman, told newspersons in his briefing at the State Secretariat.

However, the Minister said that while the chance of the disease appearing in West Bengal was remote, panic should not be created against consumption of chicken.

He said that the Union Health Secretary would meet the State Chief Secretary on February 9, to discuss the issue.