The coronavirus pandemic is coming home to roost in America’s backyards. Forced to hunker down at home, more people are setting up coops and raising their own chickens, which provide an earthy hobby, animal companionship and a steady supply of fresh eggs.

Nepal has become self-reliant on poultry products. We no longer have to import eggs and chickens like in the past to fulfill the domestic needs. With this, vast majority of people have access to nutritious food like eggs and chickens. No doubt, this is the result of growing poultry industry in the country.  But at times, it seems, poultry industries and intermediaries have established such cartels and syndicates that they can raise the prices of the poultry products whenever they like. The rising price of poultry products in recent weeks is a case in point.

Tens of thousands of chickens have been culled due to bird flu that spread in dozens of poultry farms across the country in recent days. It is now confirmed that the “H5N1” virus is responsible for ongoing outbreaks. A couple of months ago, hundreds of chickens died of bird flu known as “H9N2” virus in a short period of time in a capital based poultry farm.

CHITWAN, Nov 5: Madan Baral of Bharatpur Metropolitan City Ward 2 has nearly 1,200 market ready chickens in his farm.

LAHAN, April 19: Although the government has restricted the import of chicken and poultry products from India, different markets in Siraha district are found selling them openly.

RAUTAHAT, Oct 7: Police have arrested 14 Indian and three Nepali nationals with the illegal chickens on Friday morning.