Chicken lobbies in TN pressurize to withdraw ban

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As a clear signal of taking revenge against Kerala for banning chicken out of fear of bird flu, the chicken lobbies in Tamil Nadu have reportedly threatened to block the transport of rice to Kerala from Tamil Nadu.

The lobbies which maintain farms have even approached the central government to exert pressure on Kerala to make a retreat from the ban.

These lobbies fear that their business worth crores of rupees may be badly affected. Figures point out that other states including Tamil Nadu are facing a daily loss of Rs. 7.94 crore since the ban. Tamil Nadu is the most affected state.

A major chunk of the amount of chicken Kerala consumes daily (657.5-tonne; 1.25 lakh eggs) come from Tamil Nadu. There are no consumers in Tamil Nadu to buy this huge amount of chicken.

Besides, the price of live chicken in Tamil Nadu has come down to Rs. 20 per kilogram. Here, in Kerala, they could fetch thrice the price.