Centre Supports Egg Exports
Dr P V Senthil, secretary, Livestock and Agri Farmers Trade Association, had earlier urged Alka to officially recognize Tamil Nadu as a bird flu and other disease-free state, as there wasn't any such outbreak in the state till date. He also urged the Centre to do away with the compartmentalization policy for poultry farms and consider zonal-wise declarations. Alka,
however, said the compartmentalization was the requirement from certain egg importing na- tions and that the Centre had nothing to do with the same. Poultry farmers and egg exporters also pitched for a laboratory in the district for the surveillance and diagnosis of poultry dis- eases. "Now, we are relying on multiple laboratory tests and certifications for export activities. The situation will change if an advanced lab comes up in the district," they said. In reply, Alka said it would cost at least Rs. 10 crore to set up such a laboratory and promised that she would take up the matter with the Centre for financial support. The meeting was attended by district collector S Uma, Rajya Sabha MP KRN Rajesh Kumar and state ani- mal husbandry director Maheswari Ravikumar.
Source – Times of India
