4 months ago
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Recurring avian flu outbreaks person pushed Kuttanad’s centuries-old accepted duck farming to the brink of collapse.
The latest outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1)—the seventh successful the portion successful the past 11 years—was confirmed earlier this week successful 1 ward each of 8 panchayats successful Alappuzha territory and successful 4 villages successful Kottayam. It has already resulted successful the decease of astir 55,000 birds, including ample numbers of ducks, chickens and quails successful the 2 districts. Another 25,000 birds volition beryllium culled aboriginal this week arsenic portion of containment measures.
Duck farming has agelong been a accordant root of income for respective families successful Kuttanad. However, repeated vertebrate flu outbreaks person severely affected livelihoods. Most farmers rear ducks doubly a year, particularly targeting the Christmas and Easter festive seasons.
Huge losses
Ramachandran G., a seasoned duck husbandman from Cheruthana successful Alappuzha, mislaid 12,000 of his 15,000 ducks, which were 30 days old, to the latest outbreak. The remaining birds are scheduled to beryllium culled successful the coming days. “I was raising the ducks with an oculus connected the 2026 Easter play and person suffered losses to the tune of astir ₹20 lakh. This is the 2nd clip I person incurred losses owed to avian flu. In 2014, though my 4,500 ducks were not straight affected, they were culled arsenic portion of containment measures. I bash not privation to instrumentality to duck farming immoderate clip soon,” says the 67-year-old.
Though the outbreaks person straight affected lone a tiny fig of farmers, the interaction has been widespread. Restrictions imposed by the authorities, arsenic portion of the efforts to incorporate the highly pathogenic virus, connected the commercialized of duck nutrient and eggs—along with those of chickenhearted and quail—have deed astir each stakeholders successful the sector.
According to farmers’ associations, the fig of ample duck farmers successful the backwater region—those with flocks of 2,000 birds oregon more—has declined sharply from astir 1,500 to less than 250 implicit the years. “The latest outbreak, confirmed connected the eve of Christmas, has each but ended hopes of a revival aft past year’s outbreak and the consequent restrictions connected hatcheries and poultry operations. A decennary ago, betwixt 10 lakh and 15 lakh ducks were reared successful the portion annually. That fig has present fallen to astir 3 lakh and is definite to diminution further. More large and tiny farmers are considering exiting the assemblage entirely. The authorities should supply compensation to the affected farmers soon,” says B. Rajasekharan, president, Aikya Tharavu Karshaka Sangham.
Open farming
Unlike poultry farming elsewhere, wherever birds are reared indoors, duck farming successful Kuttanad—known for its immense backwaters and paddy fields—is mostly conducted successful the open. Farmers determination ducks from 1 determination to different for feeding. Experts accidental this signifier increases vulnerability to diseases specified arsenic avian influenza arsenic the portion is frequented by migratory birds, believed to beryllium a superior root of the virus. They pass that section duck breeds specified arsenic Chara and Chembally look the hazard of extinction.
“Avian flu usually spreads done migratory birds, and continuous monitoring could assistance forestall outbreaks to immoderate extent. Unfortunately, India lacks a strategy for monitoring migratory birds. Kuttanad attracts these birds owed to its waterlogged terrain, and their accomplishment cannot beryllium prevented. The government’s precedence is to incorporate the spread, particularly since determination is simply a hazard of the microorganism mutating,” says an Animal Husbandry section official, portion urging the radical to beryllium much cautious.
