Bird flu not to affect soya industry

The Soya Oil Producers' Association (Sopa), has said in a statement that if the disease can be contained to only a few villages, it would reduce the impact on the industry.

"In our view, if the Bird Flu is contained or restricted to only some of the villages, it would not have much impact on the Poultry Industry and various suppliers of feed ingredients. Only if Bird Flu spreads widely across the country, the domestic poultry and feed suppliers are likely to be affected," Sopa said in a statement issued here on Tuesday.

It went on to add that the soybean industry, which supplied soybean meal to the poultry industry, was unlikely to be affected in the medium to long term.

However, there may be postponement of demand from the poultry industry; but that will be a temporary phase and would happen only if the disease spreads to larger areas.

The soybean industry supplies more than 50 per cent of the total production to the global market. "There is commitment for exports for the next two months; hence, we do not feel there is any cause for worry or panic," the statement added.