There was scarcity of poultry meat across Dimapur due to the indefinite ban on the entry of poultry consignments into Dimapur by Poultry Union Dimapur (PUD), which entered its third day Saturday.
The ban on sale of poultry compelled hordes of buyers from Dimaput to travel to nearby Lahorijan (Karbi Anglong) to buy poultry.
As announced earlier by the PUD, the ban which took effect from midnight of August 10, has been imposed against the alleged s syndicate operating from Karbi Anglong.
PUD members stationed at one of the check gates said that the ban would continue till a viable solution was reached.
PUD alleged that a syndicate was being run by a Karbi Anglong based individual, who had reportedly obtained a No objection Certificate (NoC) from Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) solely for the purpose of inspection of poultry consignments in Karbi Anglong.
However, PUD claimed that poultry sellers of Dimapur were charged Rs. 30 per kg as part of an extra layer of secondary verification before poultry consignment was allowed entry into Dimapur.
PUD sources clarified that they have no issue with the NoC holders operating within their jurisdiction at Karbi Anglong but the union’s stand was aimed at safeguarding Nagaland’s interests and to prevent exploitation of poultry traders and consumers.
“We possess the means to facilitate entry by paying the extra fee, but we refuse to let Nagas fall victim to looting,” PUD said.
The union also claimed that it had received support from the Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI), Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Dimapur Naga Students Union (DNSU), and Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) for its stand.
A poultry trader in Lahorijan area informed that they have no issue with Dimapur poultry traders. When asked about the rate of live chicken, the trader said that the price fluctuated at the source (company). As on August 12, the trader said that the rate at the source was Rs. 133 per kg. After adding up all the cost (transportation, feeds etc.) the market rate at Lahorijan was priced at Rs. 145-150/- per kg, he added.
Meanwhile, responding to a query on non-availability of large-scale poultry farming in Nagaland, an official pointed out that issues like multiple taxation etc. have discouraged entrepreneurs/poultry farmers to invest in the business.
It was also learnt that Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dimapur, Sachin Jaiswal and Commissioner of Police (CP)K Sophie were in constant touch with their counterparts in Karbi Anglong to diffuse the situation.
PUD has also appealed to the civil society organizations (CSOs) and individuals to support them till the issue was resolved.