Bird Flu Wreaks Havoc Near South Gujarat, Poultry Industry Comes to Standstill

Surat | Gujarat — A severe bird flu outbreak in Maharashtra’s poultry hub of Navapur and Nandurbar has triggered a major economic and supply chain crisis across the South Gujarat border, forcing authorities to seal districts and halt poultry imports. In just six days, officials buried nearly 2.5 lakh birds in deep pits as emergency containment measures intensified, leaving farmers and traders staring at devastating financial losses.

The outbreak, which surfaced near the Gujarat border, has prompted strict movement restrictions across Surat, Tapi and Dang districts. The transport and sale of poultry products from the affected belt have been banned, breaking the region’s tightly connected supply chain and sending shockwaves across the poultry and egg markets.

Officials confirmed that poultry within a one-kilometre radius of infected zones has been culled as part of emergency containment. The Maharashtra government has declared a bird flu emergency and dispatched samples from birds within a two-kilometre radius to a laboratory in Bhopal for testing and monitoring.

The impact has been immediate and severe. Navapur and Nandurbar, widely known as a poultry hub supplying eggs and chicken to major cities, have come to a complete halt. Daily deliveries of nearly three lakh eggs to South Gujarat have stopped overnight, while an estimated 10 lakh eggs that usually move daily to cities like Surat, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Mumbai and Nashik are stuck due to the transport ban.

“This is the worst crisis we have seen in years. The entire poultry ecosystem has frozen,” said Arif Balesaria, President of the Navapur Poultry Farm Association, who is set to meet distributors in Surat to assess the fallout.

The economic damage is staggering. Traders and farmers estimate daily losses of ₹50 to ₹60 crore due to halted trade, culling operations and transport restrictions. For poultry farmers, the crisis is especially painful because hens require nearly four months of feeding and care before they begin laying eggs.

“The assistance provided by the government is very insignificant compared to the actual cost. The cost of preparing a chicken is more than ₹450, but the compensation is only ₹140 per bird,” Balesaria said. “Farmers are being forced to bury entire batches, wiping out months of investment.”

The Maharashtra government has announced compensation of ₹140 per chicken culled, but poultry owners argue the amount is far below production costs. With feed and medicine prices rising sharply and income reduced to zero, the industry fears long-term damage if support is not increased quickly.

Egg traders in South Gujarat are also facing heavy losses as supplies from Navapur and Nandurbar account for a major share of the region’s daily consumption. With transport halted, wholesalers warn of potential price volatility in the coming weeks.

Industry leaders are now urging both Maharashtra and Gujarat governments to step in with higher compensation and a clear recovery plan.