Duck farmers cash in on artificial beef shortage in Kerala
10 percent hike in the daily business bringing hope to the farmers who had suffered badly following the bird flu
Alappuzha: The duck business in Kuttanad has gained momentum with the shortage of beef and the rise in its prices following the agitation launched by the Kerala Cattle Merchants Association over the attacks on trucks carrying slaughter animals. Several duck stalls have sprung up at Muttar and Kidangara and along the Alappuzha-Changanassery road which witness brisk sale of ducks.
There has been a 10 percent hike in the daily business bringing hope to the farmers who had suffered badly following the bird flu outbreak in November last.
J. Raju, 45, a fresh duck meat seller at Mankompu, is hopeful of recovering his losses. The stretch from Ramankary to Nedumudy on the Alappuzha-Changanassery road has become the nerve centre of duck sellers with as many as 200 shops active in the area.
Thankachan Kaitharam, a farmer from Nedumudy, says the number of customers has increased during the last 20 days. The price is retained at Rs 260 per kg. Thankachan rears a flock of 7,000 ducks for Onam sales.
Samuel Pallippad, state secretary, All-Kerala Joint Duck Farmer’s Society, says the wholesale dealers purchase ducks from the farmers at a rate of Rs 130-Rs 150 because there is large-scale import of ducks from other states.
According to the AHD data, there are about 650 registered big duck farmers in Kuttanad and surrounding areas, and over 1,000 in the unorganized sector.