Fw: Bird Breeding in India

[Guest guest]

http://news.webindia123.com/news/index.html

 

 

News >> India

 

 

Kolkata June 29, 2005 3:42:49 PM IST

 

 

West Bengal's tough laws have exotic bird breeders, traders on the run

 

Breeders of exotic birds in West Bengal are facing a tough time coping with the

demands of the business and harassment from the state govt officials.

 

The breeders say that there are no statutory laws against breeding and export of

exotic birds in the country, and the existing impasse is slowly depleting the

potential of what many in the state see as a flourishing industry.

 

" In India no statutory law regarding exotic birds has been made or passed. One

can keep birds, breed them, trade them, market them and transport them to

different places. But there is the Wildlife Protection Act, using which the

state govt. is messing up the exotic birds business. Using this law, the state

govt. is claiming that keeping, rearing, breeding birds is a crime, " said Pranab

Mitra, a trader of exotic birds.

 

" This is controversial since the state government is saying that keeping birds

is a punishable offence, but the Central government makes it clear that there is

no law against keeping exotic birds. Anyone can keep them, rear them and breed

birds of different types. The issue is very misguiding and this is ruining the

breeding business in West Bengal, which is considerably established. The

industry is now decaying, " he added.

 

The bird breeders and traders say that the biggest problem is the absence of

clear guidelines. They say that the Wildlife Protection Act does not have

anything on breeding of exotic birds and the Central government has no problems

with the rearing and breeding or export of exotic birds.

 

But West Bengal government, forest and wildlife department officials, they

allege are taking advantage of the situation by propagating the idea that

keeping, breeding and transporting exotic birds is illegal and a punishable

crime.

 

The other problem being faced by the traders is of transportation. According to

the breeders, police intercept cabs and demand bribes or threaten arrest if

their demands are not fulfilled.

 

The breeders and traders in West Bengal are now demanding industry status, clear

legal guidelines, freedom from police harassment and loan facilities for running

their business.

 

They claim that the exotic birds business brings in foreign exchange and the

industry can flourish with the right impetus from the state government. The

industry, they say has immense potential for self-employment as well as

employment generation.

 

" Our demand, as stated already, is that we want industry status. Plants,

fisheries and poultry farming have industry status and in the same way we too

want industry status. After getting this status we will get loan facilities

which will solve the hiring of employees problem and unemployed youths will get

jobs in this business. We will also get freedom from the harassment of airport

authorities and wildlife department officials, just like Holland where this

business gets prime export status. We want that bird exports from West Bengal

get leading position and we will also get relief from employee problems, " Mitra

added.

 

Around twenty five thousand families across the state are involved in the

rearing, breeding and other businesses related to exotic birds like Love birds,

Cockatoo, Cockatiel, Macaw, Finch, Parakeets, Sun Conure, Redrump, Lory and

Rosella.

 

These exotic birds are sold both in the domestic as well as in the international

markets. About 80,000 lovebirds and over 1.5 lakh birds of other varieties are

exported from India and most of these are bred in West Bengal.

 

Rearing and breeding of these exotic birds is expensive because of the medicine

and the food habits. Compared to other pets, maintenance of cages, nest boxes,

cleaning is expensive and needs manpower.

 

The birds are sold from the range of 60 rupees to 1.5 lakh rupees. The most

expensive bird is the Macaw.

 

But the once thriving business is on a downhill because of increasing harassment

and transportation difficulties. The traders and breeders are willing to take

licenses on fee basis if so required.

 

The state government's present apathy to their grievances is killing off this

business and means of livelihood for several thousand families across the state.

(ANI)

 

 

 

 

 

 

--

 

 

 

 

 

 

Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.8.7/34 - Release 6/29/2005