Karnataka Govt Allows Movement and Sale of Chicken and Egg During Lockdown
Mangaluru: The Government of Karnataka on Friday night has lifted the restrictions on the movement of chicken and eggs, thus ensuring the availability of protein-based nutrition to consumers. Due to the 21-day lockdown in the State, police and other regulatory authorities were not allowing movement of poultry products, which not only had affected the entire poultry sector but also the consumers. The Karnataka Poultry Farmers and Breeders Association (KPFBA) had made a representation to the government to lift the restrictions.
The Secretary of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, A B Ibrahim in a circular dated March 27, 2020, said that the minimal husbandry sector came under essential services and is given exemption during the lockdown period. He cited the letter which provides for the exemption, issued by the Government of India Home Secretary and the Union Joint Secretary of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
Circular sent to police, civic and other bodies
The circular has been sent to all the City Police Commissioners in Karnataka, the Commissioner of BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike), all Deputy Commissioners, all Superintendents of Police, all CEOs of Zilla Panchayats, Commissioner of Animal Husbandry and all others concerned. They have been asked to sensitize the local enforcement authorities.
There were severe complaints of restrictions placed on the movement of live birds, meat, fish, manufactured feed, feed/cattle feed, feed ingredients and farm inputs, hatching and table eggs by road within the state or at inter-state borders, thus inconveniencing farmers, manufacturers and traders of poultry production. The KPFBA and the trade made a representation to the Commissioner of Animal Husbandry Services on March 26 who in turn approached the Government Secretariat for further action.
Production and sale of animal husbandry produce allowed
As per the circular, the government has permitted the production of chicken birds, sheep, goat, pig, etc in the farms; transportation of live chicken birds, day-old chicks, sheep, goat, fish, pig and meat; hatching and table eggs, manufactured feed, feed ingredients/inputs; liquid nitrogen meant for veterinary use, semen straws, etc; and any other such items related to Animal Husbandry and Fisheries sector.
The KPFBA President, Dr Sushanth Rai while thanking the State Government for the initiative, said this would help the poultry sector which is facing a major crisis. Chicken and eggs are the cheapest sources of proteins that help develop immunity which is the need of the hour in the fight against Covid-19, Dr Rai added.