Massive financial loss to poultry farmers as 50,000 chickens die in Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore

Reports have emerged from several villages in Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore district that approximately 50,000 chickens have died due to an unknown disease over the last six days. This incident has pushed local poultry farmers into a severe financial crisis. Especially with the Diwali festivals approaching, a time when business is typically expected to boom, this crisis has caused heavy losses to farmers.

According to an NDTV report, poultry farmers in the district have observed a strange and terrifying pattern in the deaths of the chickens. Farmers stated that when the carcasses are found, their legs are pulled backwards and their wings are fully spread. Due to these unusual symptoms, widespread panic has spread among poultry farmers, and the process of killing birds on a large scale and burying dead chickens has begun.

Expressing his agony, Mohan, a poultry farmer from Cuddalore, said that he has lost 7,000 birds in the last week. He stated, "We can no longer do anything. We cannot survive in this situation. We had invested ₹40 to ₹50 lakh and now we are sitting helpless. Overall, 40,000 to 50,000 birds have been lost in the affected poultry farms." According to Mohan, the price of a small chick is approximately ₹47-48, while a 50 kg bag of poultry feed costs between ₹2,500 and ₹2,600. Additionally, electricity bills alone amount to ₹10,000 to ₹20,000, which is constantly increasing their financial burden.

On the other hand, the figures from the district administration differ from the claims made by the poultry farmers. A senior official of the district administration told NDTV that, according to their estimate, the number of dead birds is approximately 26,000, which is much lower than the 50,000 figure reported by the farmers. The official further stated that preliminary laboratory test reports have ruled out the possibility of 'Avian Influenza' (bird flu), but the exact cause of death has not yet been determined.

The Tamil Nadu government has now sent samples to a laboratory in Bhopal for further investigation. Poultry farmers are waiting hopefully for this report so that the cause of the disease can be identified and necessary steps can be taken to prevent it. Mohan complained that despite repeated appeals to government officials and veterinarians, they have not received any immediate relief. He added, "When we talk to government officials and doctors, they tell us not to go anywhere and that the test results will arrive soon."

With the Diwali season approaching, poultry farmers fear that if this disease continues, their remaining stock may also be wiped out. Due to the lack of information regarding the cause of the disease, anxiety is increasing among farmers about how this will affect their remaining birds. For Mohan and other affected farmers, the biggest question at present is how they will save their farms and livelihoods.