Chicken imports from India have swollen after domestic production was hit first by last year’s earthquake and then by the Indian embargo.  

Concerned by the surge in shipments, the Nepal Chicken Market Management Association and the Egg Producers and Chicken Entrepreneurs Association have jointly asked the local administration of the bordering districts to stop unauthorised imports. 

The Nepali entrepreneurs had drawn the attention of the chief district officers of Parsa and Bara districts on Tuesday to the smuggling of chicken products. 

The entrepreneurs said they had agreed to pay Rs5 for every chick and Rs10 for every chicken the security forces stop from entering the country.

Shiva Ram KC, president of the Egg Producers’ Association, said that there had been a rise in smuggling of white eggs, chickens and chicks from India. 

“They are being smuggled into the country through from Parsa, Bara and Rautahat districts,” he said. “The smuggling may hit domestic industry hard.”

Domestic poultry entrepreneurs who had to pay more for chicken feed during the embargo are complaining that they are not getting good prices for their products as they have to compete with smuggled chicken from India.

Meanwhile, animal quarantine offices have been criticized for issuing good health certificates for imported chicken products. The quarantine office should also be strict with regard to quality,” said KC.

Chief District Officer of Parsa Keshav Raj Ghimire said that he had already instructed the police to control the smuggling of chicken.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Raj Babu Shrestha also said that the police were determined to stop the illegal trade.