Patna: The bird flu outbreak in Patna has led to a sharp decline in poultry sales ahead of Holi. The scare began after chickens and crows were found dead in Muzaffarpur, Bettiah and Patna, prompting authorities to cull around 6,000 birds at a govt poultry farm in Chitkohra in the state capital. Poultry farm owners and meat sellers had expected a surge in demand during Holi, but the outbreak dampened sales. Many residents are now planning to consume mutton or jackfruit as a special meal for the festival.Local poultry farmers and retailers are bearing the brunt of the outbreak. “Customers are apprehensive about bird flu due to news reports on digital platforms, TV channels and newspapers. Only known customers are coming to our shops to buy chicken,” said Kalimuddin Ansari, a meat seller on Boring Road in Patna.Another seller, Shahnawaz Alam, said, “The bird flu scare created panic among the people. Hence, our sales went down by 50 to 60%. Earlier, the price per kilogram of live chicken was Rs 160-170; now it is being sold at Rs 150/kg.”Abhimanyu Singh, a poultry farm owner in Bihta, said consumption of poultry meat typically rises during festivals such as Holi, Dussehra and Eid. However, the sudden outbreak has reduced demand this year.“I used to supply around 20,000kg of chicken to wholesalers in the state capital during Holi every year, but this year people are keeping their distance from consuming chicken,” Singh added.Residents are also opting for alternative non-vegetarian protein sources such as fish and mutton. “Being a non-vegetarian, I am now preferring fish ever since bird flu cases were reported in some states. Apart from chicken, I am also avoiding mutton, as both are sold together in the majority of outlets,” said a resident of Khagaul in Patna district.He added that while mutton is costlier than poultry products, health remains the primary concern.Several families are also planning vegetarian dishes for the festival. Vegetables such as jackfruit and green chickpeas are currently in high demand. Jackfruit is priced at around Rs 100-120/kg, while chickpeas are available at Rs 250-300/kg. However, vegetable sellers expect prices to rise further as Holi approaches.
