Entrepreneurs worried over smuggling of Indian chickens

Poultry traders in Banke are worried over the increase in smuggling of chickens from India. Poultry traders informed that Indian chickens, hens and eggs are being imported openly from the main checkpoint even though the security personnel did not allow the import from the main checkpoint. 

According to him, Nepali businessmen are in trouble due to smuggling in collaboration with Nepali and Indian security personnel from various rural checkpoints in Banke and Bardiya. The business of Nepali poultry farmers has been trapped as a large number of Indian chickens have not stopped coming to Nepal on a daily basis using rural border crossings.

The Government of Nepal has banned the import of Indian poultry products due to the threat of bird flu and other bird flu in Nepal. But as the price of poultry products in India is cheaper than in Nepal, Indian chickens enter Nepal for profit, said another businessman.

It has been found that a large number of chickens and hens are being smuggled from Janaki Gaonpalika-1 Saigaun of Banke and Khajura Gaonpalika-1 Radhapur. Poultry traders say that the imported chickens reach Nepalgunj, Kohalpur and Jumla, Dolpal and other districts of Karnali by air.

Poultry traders complained that the police administration did not respond to their request for help in curbing the smuggling. They said that due to the Indian chickens, they have been forced to sell the chickens raised by feeding them expensive grains and medicines at cheap rates.

Chicken available at Rs 180 per kg in India is smuggled to Nepal at a wholesale price of Rs 210 per kg. Poultry purchased at Rs 210 is being sold to consumers at a retail price of up to Rs 340. It has been found that meat traders in Nepalgunj are illegally bringing and selling chickens for profit.

Deputy Inspector in-charge of the Area Police Office at Jumna, Nepal-India, Bishnu Giri said that poultry products were not allowed to enter through the main border. "We have not allowed Indian chickens and eggs to enter from here," Giri said. "As there is an open checkpoint, they may have entered from the inner village without security personnel."