The latest statistics from China's Ministry of Agriculture shows poultry
farming which was devastated by the outbreak of bird flu in China is recovering
from the impact of bird flu. Consumption of poultry products is returning to
normal, with prices steadily rising.
China's success in containing the disease has given a marked boost to the
market for poulty products. The KFC and McDonald's restaurant chains report
chicken products are in high demand and most consumers in China say buying
poultry products is no longer causing them too much concern.
Chen Jia is one of the many consumers who buy poultry products in Beijing.
She says she is not worried that eating poultry products may expose her to the
risk of bird flu.
ˇ°On one hand, I believe all the chickens on the market have undergone strict
tests by the health departments. On the other hand, I think as long as we cook
the chicken right, it shouldn't be a problem.ˇ±Chen said.
Since last year, China has reported 35 outbreaks of bird flu amongst poultry,
resulting in the culling of over 22 million birds. The total losses by the
industry amounted to about 20 billion RMB or 2.4 billion US dollars.
In such circumstances, the Chinese government has taken concrete measures to
protect the interests of poultry breeders. Apart from immunizing all domestic
birds in the affected regions, the government has also provided subsidies to
those who have had their flocks culled.
With these measures in place, the poultry industry in China is recovering.
But the damage caused is not so readily undone as most of the breeders are
still losing money.
Zeng Yanchu is a professor of agricultural economy from Renmin University. He
says the government should inject more financial aid into the poultry industry.
ˇ°Commercial banks are in pursuit of economic gains themselves, so it is not
really reasonable for the country to force them to provide support to the
poultry industry. The policy-related banks should also come in to provide aid to
the industry.ˇ±Zeng said.
So far, health departments in China have distributed over 2.9 billion doses
of vaccine to breeders scattered throughout China's countryside, to ensure
migratory birds don't cause another outbreak of bird flu in the coming April.
Another one billion RMB has been earmarked to help breeders obtain a steady
supply of free vaccine.
