Abu Dhabi: The local media could not "chicken out" of this one when the local authorities found a way to quell all bird flu fears by laying out an all-chicken feast for them at a Suweihan farm.
Before anyone could say "chicken run", Majid Al Mansouri, Secretary-General of Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (E-AD) coaxed journalists to eat chicken to prove "that bird flu does not exist in the UAE".
"We have only chicken on the menu for you. Enjoy the meal, you will be fine," he said as the meal was ready. Luckily, in their quest for the truth, the journalists survived to tell the tale. And they thanked Al Mansouri for making the news worthwhile and not chicken feed.
The lunch was served after the tour of the farm. The menu was chicken rolls, chicken biryani, chicken pulao, chicken curry, sweet and sour pineapple chicken, a variety of chicken salads and fried chicken.
The media trip to the Abu Dhabi Poultry Farm in Suweihan, in coordination with the Emirates Poultry Producers Association (EPPA), was organised by E-AD, which is also the Central Secretariat for the National Committee for Emergency Response to Bird Flu, on Wednesday.
The trip was organised for the media to see what preventive measures farms in the country are taking against bird flu.
The farm, which has a daily production of about four tonnes of chicken, is manned by a strong team of vets, experts and caretakers. It is fenced and protected against unauthorised visits. All the vehicles entering and exiting are disinfected with sprays.
HHamad Bin Khadem Al Hamed, Chairman of the EPPA, during a briefing, said eating chicken and egg produced by UAE farms is safe.
However, he said the industry in the country has been affected due to the fear of the virus. He said the industry has lost Dh20 million in the first three months of this year, and the demand for poultry products has dropped by 30 per cent.
Industry: More than 1,500 workers in UAE
- The industry has lost Dh20 million from January to March due to bird flu fear
- There are more than 19 major and 20 other farms in UAE
- Fresh poultry production rose from 20,000 tonnes in 1993 to 40,000 tonnes in 2004
- Egg production rose from 100 million eggs to 400 million yearly
- Investment in the industry has exceeded Dh1 billion
- There are more than 1,500 workers in the industry
- Small farms produce around 5 million small chickens, 20 million eggs and 5,000 tonnes of fertilisers
- UAE imports more than 100,000 tonnes of frozen chicken
Source: Emirates Poultry Producers Association
