The smuggling of live fowl via the open border with India is on the rise with more traders engaging in the activity.

Live chicken costs Rs100 per kg in India while it costs Rs250-270 per kg in the local market. This huge price disparity is attracting unscrupulous traders by the horde.

According to Nepal Commercial Poultry Survey 2015 conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics, the country is self reliant in poultry and poultry products. The government has also imposed a ban on import of roosters.

Ram Binod Pandey, president of Poultry Entrepreneurs Association, Rautahat, said the price of chicken in India cost nearly half of the price that it sells for in Nepal.“Although we have informed the authority about the rampant smuggling of chicken, officials have been apathetic to put an end to such trading,” said Pandey.

As per the traders, such smuggling is being done via small customs located at Rampurkhap, Ishnath and Bankul of the district. Use of such imported chicken is wide spread in the southern part of Dumariya, according to Pandey.

The import of cheaper Indian product has affected the business of local farmers in the district. As per the

association, demand for chicken has soared in Rautahat district.

Last Thursday, a patrol team from Banjarha Police Unit seized 12 units of Indian live chicken that weighed 25 kg in total, in Ishnath Municipality-4. District Police Chief and Superintendent of Police Kedar Dhakal, however, said that the authority was looking to control the smuggling of chicken at the bordering areas. Most traders smuggle in the farm products by carrying them on bicycles or motorcycles.

Apart from affecting the business of local farmers, the imported chicken also poses a threat of disease such as bird flu from breaking out.

With an aim to check the outspread of disease and to ensure the quality of the farm business, the government has enforced standards for transporting and selling of poultry products.

Last year, the Ministry of Livestock Development enforced guidelines to regulate the market of poultry products.

However, in most cases, traders were barely abiding by the government rule.