KARACHI, Feb 28: There are indications of a mood swing amongst consumers towards chicken items but the city's daily consumption is yet to touch the pre bird-flu crisis level of 300,000-350,000 birds despite phenomenal drop in prices and the government's campaign to restore consumers confidence in safety standard of chicken and chicken-based products.
The daily consumption of birds has now reached to 200,000 birds as compared to 125,000-150,000 birds in December-January when the markets were badly hit by killing of over 3.5 million layer birds owing to H7 and H9 viruses. People were of the impression that it was the same virus that claimed over two dozen lives in some Asian countries. However, the facts, it is claimed are different. It was H5N1 that caused human casualties in Asian countries and not H7 and H9 viruses that were traced in Pakistan.
However, fast food restaurants that primarily offer chicken based food items and Bar B Q outlets are still worried over thin attendance of chicken lovers who still appear a bit confuse in munching the meat of white bird.
Caterers said that people, who had skipped chicken from their menus at various receptions, have now started including chicken dishes in their menu. Previously, many families, who had put up chicken dishes in various receptions in December-January, suffered losses when sizable quantities of chicken were not consumed both by hosts and guests due to bird flu scare.
General Secretary, Karachi Wholesalers' Poultry Association (KWPA), Kamal Akhtar Siddiqui claimed that currently the bulk of chicken is being entirely consumed in household segments since marriage and valima receptions are now at a pause due to Muharram.
However, he admitted that a very thin quantity is being lifted by the broasted chicken and Bar B Q outlets owners as buyers are not turning up "not because of some fear factor but owing to high price factor."
Chicken prices have caved in to Rs38 per kg in early February from Rs68 per kg on January 1, but chicken based outlets have not passed on the benefit of price cut to the consumers. This is the main reason of consumers being shied away from eating white meat as it is too costly to buy a broasted quarter at Rs55 as compared to current price of Rs42 per kg for live poultry bird.
Besides, he said chicken sales in posh areas are not picking up as people living in these areas are still panicky to buy chicken due to misconception.
"There has never been a bird flu virus in Pakistan. It was avian influenza that devastated the layer birds in November- December 2003 only and not the broiler birds," he said adding that somehow the perception of people is gradually becoming clear with the passage of time. Further, the slight rise in price is evident from the fact that the demand for poultry birds is picking up.
He said that poultry farmers have suffered huge losses worth over Rs1 billion due to killing of over 3.5 million layer birds at the poultry farms in Karachi and its outskirts. He said the disease has done its damage in shape of suspending Pakistan's exports of hatchable eggs and day-old chicks. However, exports of layer birds has been proceeding to Afghanistan.
Although a section of the society has resumed eating chicken, there are many consumers who still appear confused about the white meat and eggs.
General Secretary, Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), Dr Qaiser Sajjad said that he had not detected any bird flu virus (H5N1) in poultry birds in both layer and broiler birds during a visit to various poultry farms. Besides, broiler birds had always remained saved from any viral infection and it was the layer birds that became victim of avian influenza.
He said that H7 and H9 virus automatically disappears after boiling of chicken at over 70 degree Fahrenheit. He said PMA had sought help of senior experts and doctors of Aga Khan and Civil Hospital to confirm the outbreak of bird flu in local farms. Experts had found no clue of any bird flu disease. Even the H7 and H9 virus, which were detected earlier, were not harmful because they do not settle but it may come in contact resulting in flu and fever.
"Currently, no H7 and H9 virus exists in our poultry farms," PMA secretary said. He said people are still hesitant in procuring chicken because it directly relates to health.
He said there is still a need to create awareness among general masses in clearing the perception of people that chicken is safe for human consumption.
Research Officer of Poultry Research Institute (PRI), Dr Aslam Jalali said that both meat and eggs were safe for eating.
"There was neither any bird flu strain (H5N1) in Pakistan in November-December nor it exists even today at the farms," he said adding that only avian influenza had played havoc with the layer birds farms in November-December 2003. From January 2004 till today, no avian influenza did exist.
He said that demand of birds was rising gradually, which was quite reflective from the slight hike in poultry rates recently. Farmers are putting up new birds for production in their farms. He said people's mind will become clear slowly.
General Manager Operations of Nando's, a purely chicken based outlet, Farooq Mamsa said that many people are still undecided in eating chicken as they lack knowledge about real and basic facts.
"A slight improvement in consumption of chicken has been witnessed," he said. Each restaurant (two in Karachi and one in Lahore), which used to consume 600 birds daily, are now consuming 400 birds. A few weeks back, around 300 birds were being consumed. "There is a 10 per cent improvement in consumption," Farooq said.
Manager, Usmania Restaurant at Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Hanif Abbas gave a different view, saying that 75 per cent people were eating chicken item dishes without any fear. The restaurant has not witnessed any marked decline in chicken consumption even in previous months.
Director, Lal Qila Restaurant at Shahra-e-Faisal, M. Umar Qasim said that the daily consumption of chicken, which had dropped by over 50 per cent two weeks back, has now started showing recovery.
"Currently, we are consuming 80 per cent chicken in our restaurant," he said adding that still there are 20 per cent people who prefer beef and mutton over chicken. He attributed the growth in consumption to government's campaign in allaying fears among masses about chicken.
Owner of La Rosh Restaurant and Catering Service, Khursheed Ahmed said that placement of orders by consumers have improved. In previous months, the consumption of chicken birds had nose-dived to 10 per cent only both in restaurant and in catering service. Currently it has improved by 40 per cent, he added.
The national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airline (PIA), which had suspended serving chicken in the flights a month back, had resumed it two days back, said a spokesman of the airline.
Many caterers said that since marriage season is suspended during Muharram - people are placing orders for chicken to serve it in their in-house functions and gatherings.
However, the real sufferers in terms of business point of view are the broasted and Bar B Q chicken outlets where people, who might be willing to eat chicken, have been reluctant due to price factors. Some restaurants have cut the price of chicken dishes by Rs5 per dish but it does not reflect the actual impact on dishes in view of sharp decline in prices of poultry birds.
World's leading white meat expert, the KFC is also reporting losses due to empty seats during lunch and dinner timing but its officials are not ready to give the actual loss of clientele. Markets watchers think that the chain has been suffering over 50 per cent decline in sales volume during the last two to three months.