VEHARI, Jan 26: Poultry farmers have sharply reacted to the recent increase in the prices of poultry feed by millowners.
A group of farmers said here on Saturday that it would have adverse effects on broiler farming for they were already facing heavy losses due to the high cost of production.
A poultry expert, Muhammad Waqas, said due to high production cost and low broiler rate farmers were already suffering a loss from Rs6 to 10 per bird.
He said a day-old chick consumed four kilogramme feed of Rs48, with medication and vaccination expenses of Rs10, while the management cost including the rent, labour charges, electricity and wood charges were about Rs10. So the total expenses, he said, over a single bird had come to around Rs80 as against its market value of Rs70 only.
He suggested that the government should fix the rates of a day-old chick and broiler in order to save farmers from losses.
Millowners said they had left with no option but to increase the feed prices to maintain its quality due to hike in rates of raw material, ingredients and various grains used it.
Poultry farmers claimed that despite repeated increase in prices, the mills were unable to provide quality feed in the absence of any feed act in the country.
A survey conducted by this correspondent revealed that farmers were suffering most of the losses owing to the substandard feed, low quality chicks and broilers and high production cost.
LOOTED: Six robbers on Friday night looted cash, ornaments and valuables worth over Rs0.5 million from passersby on Burewala-Arifwala Road in Gago Mandi area.
Councillor Muhammad Shah of Chak 209/EB was deprived of his motorcycle and Rs5,000 in cash at gunpoint.
Three journalists of Lahore — Qudratullah, Muhammad Ishfaq and Abdul Hameed were relieved of thousands of rupees by the robbers. They were on their way to attend a marriage in a nearby town.
Armed outlaws also deprived passengers of two buses and a wagon of Rs300,000 in cash, wristwatches, ornaments and valuables worth Rs200,000. The vehicles were going to Mailsi from Lahore.
Police could not find any clue to the outlaws.
EXAMS: The middle standard examination will start from Feb 11, while the fifth class from Feb 26 in the Vehari district.
This was stated by EDO (Education) Mehr Bashir Ahmed while talking to newsmen here on Saturday.
AWARDED LIFE-TERM: A local court on Saturday awarded life-term imprisonment and fined Rs100,000 to a convict in a murder case.
He will undergo additional six-month imprisonment if he fails to make the payment of fine.
The court acquitted two co-accused — Shaukat Ali and Ghulam Muhammad — by giving them the benefit of the doubt.
According to the prosecution, convict Ghulam Farid had killed Khuda Hayat of Zaheerabad, Basti Sanadram, on land dispute.