Dhubri, April 17: Widepread panic over bird flu among local residents has affected poultry farming in Dhubri district.

Dhubri district boasts of the largest poultry business in Lower Assam. Most of the farmers are formerly unemployed youths, who have been engaged under various self-employment schemes of the Assam government. But the poultry business has been in the doldrums since February.

Chilarai Krishi Bikash Samiti president Mohammedul Haque said in order to generate awareness and reassure local people, the organisation had held a chicken fair.

?We are also distributing leaflets and organising a vigorous campaign in the district to clear the misconceptions that have arisen following the outbreak of bird flu. But we have got a very lukewarm response from consumers. We are worried about the farmers who took bank loans and then started poultry farming,? Haque added.

President of the Dhubri branch of the Poultry Farmers and Dealers Association, Kartik Chandra Saha, said the outbreak of the disease in the state has taken a heavy toll on those associated with the chicken trade.

Saha added that Dhubri district was a large poultry market as more than 500 poultry farmers are engaged in this trade. These include 184 poultry farmers belonging to self-help groups in the district. Poultry farmers of the entire district grow more than one lakh birds every month.

?Small poultry growers are badly affected as they are unable to feed their birds month after month. If their losses continue, many of us will have to close down farming,? Saha added.

Dhubri district veterinary officer Mrinal Kanti Chaki said nowhere in the country has bird flu (avian influenza type A virus, sub-type H5N1) been detected.

This has been confirmed after several tests conducted by the central veterinary department, he added.