Feed scarcity leads to starvation of poultry

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 15 : Thanks to the prolonged highway blockade imposed by several organisations including the Naga People’s Organisation (NPO) since November 2, a large number of poultry have starved to death thereby multiplying the woes of poultry farmers  
Deprived of feeds for days, a large number of chickens reared by one James Dangmei of Nungang village, Kangpokpi district were baying for food. The squawking of the hundreds of birds reverberated through the surrounding area.
Left with no option and starved for days, the birds started eating their own excreta and they are now suffering from different diseases.
Some other birds (chickens) ate the flesh of their own species and many of them have died within the coops.    
James Dangmei said that the chicken would have raised a strong voice of protest for starving them if they could speak.
Whenever someone goes inside the coop, the birds thinking that their feeds are finally coming would follow the individual in large groups, he said.
Questioning the benefit of blocking highways, he appealed to all the organisations not to call highway blockades for any reason whatsoever.
He went on to ask if causing untold misery to the people and starving other living beings to death are the objectives of blocking highways.    
“We have explored all possible alternatives to replace imported chicken feeds but all the alternatives have been exhausted. How can we feed rice to such a large number of poultry birds every day?”, he asked.
He then urged the Government to make a special arrangement for farmers and see that the stranded poultry feeds are brought to Imphal.
He also decried the Government’s failure to ensure free flow of essential commodities in the face of blockades imposed by particular communities/groups.
If the Government is determined, it can definitely ensure uninterrupted transportation of essential commodities, James Dangmei asserted.
He urged the Government to deploy adequate number of security forces along the highways so that there is no disruption to transportation of essential commodities including poultry  feeds.
One Thoudam Priyobrata  who runs a big poultry farm at Toubul, Bishnupur district  said that the present crisis of poultry feed is unprecedented in Manipur.
Priyobrata said that he used to feed 20 bags of feeds to his poultry but it has been cut down to just two.
Consequent upon the acute shortage of feeds, the birds are now biting and eating the flesh of each other. They are also eating their own excreta thereby breeding many diseases.
Priyobrata said that poultry is one of the essential commodities.
He then urged the Government to sympathise with the woes of the poultry farmers and take up necessary measures.
If the present situation persists any longer, many poultry farmers would be compelled to become bankrupt or jobless or they may switch to other trades, he said.
This would give a serious blow to the State’s economy, he added.
Manipur Poultry Development Association general secretary Chongtham Drubatara Khaba appealed to the Government to understand the woes of poultry farmers.
He asked whether the mass death of poultry birds and the multiplication of people’s misery would fulfil the objectives of blockade sponsors.
He urged the Government to take up necessary measures and provide safe passage to all the stranded vehicles.