ALAPPUZHA: The duck nurseries in Kuttanad have come alive once again after the devastating bird flu in November last year when nearly one lakh ducks were wiped out.
The farmers who had suffered huge losses are hopeful of a recovery during the peak season of Christmas and New Year which are three months away.
Kuttanad is known for its special duck rearing varieties of Chara and Chemballi. K. O. Jose from Chennithala, a nursery owner, says each nursery breeds some 20,000 ducklings during September –November. “The movement of ducklings has gained momentum now,” he says.
In the wake of the bird flu outbreak last year, the Department of Animal Husbandry had declared duck rearing as an agricultural activity making duck farmers eligible for bank loans at a subsidised rate of four per cent.
The department had also claimed that the farmers would get insurance cover, subsidised power and economic benefits currently given to small and marginal farmers.
Samuel Pallippad, another nursery owner, says, “we have bred 10,000 ducklings for a local farmer. We will breed 25,000 ducks this season,” he says.
Thankachan Kaitharam, a farmer from Nedumudy, said duck business had started picking up. There has been no rise in the prices of duck meat so far and it’s being sold at Rs 260 per kg.
K.T. Kuttapan from Alappuzha, who had lost all his 25, 640 ducks last year, is hoping for better times now. He had received Rs 3 lakh as compensation and is now rearing 15,000 ducklings.
According to the AHD data, about 650 registered large-scale duck farmers are currently in Kuttanand and over 1,000 farmers in the unorganized sector.
