Alappuzha: Duck industry gears up for Xmas

ALAPPUZHA: Kuttanad's flood-devastated duck industry is gearing up for the Christmas - New Year season. Though most of the flocks reared by farmers here lost to the floods, the farmers look forward to reviving the business with existing stocks. 

They also predict a high possibility of imports from other states in the coming weeks because the demand is very high.

"I used to rear at least 40,000 ducks every year. This year I have only 5,000 ducks," says Thankachan Kaitharam, a farmer.

"Many farmers have given up business as it turned risky. However, many still stay to keep the tradition afloat."  

J. Raju, a meat seller from Mankombu who sells 1,000 ducks a day during the season, finds ducks from Avani in Karnataka cheaper. He feels the seasonal business this time will have some silver lining.

“The local breeds are still highly sought after, but short in availability. So some are contacting middlemen in Karnataka to meet the demand,” he says.

"We are currently selling the stock of local breed."

Farmers also say they find it difficult to breed due to a declining surviving capacity of local birds. The reasons include indiscriminate use of pesticides in paddy fields, shrinking habitat, water pollution and climate changes. 

Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) was doing intensive research on the productivity as part of food safety policy. The targets were the revival of duck farming, improvement of food and nutritional security, promotion of backyard rearing and making people aware of waterfowl products and effective control of vector-borne diseases. 

KAU scientists in 2004 identified the Chara and Chemballi varieties. They lay about 220 eggs a year, and the weight of a bird is one kilogramme on an average.

Samuel Pallipad of All Kerala Joint Duck Farmers’ Society, says the industry has undergone drastic transition since back-to-back outbreaks of bird flu and unprecedented flooding. Many farmers have quit.  The short supply has become an advantage for certain wholesalers who brought them from Tamil Nadu to make a quick buck. 

"There are no restrictions on it. Christmas – New Year is the most important season that often spins at least '10 crore business,” he said.