"Innovative and modern solutions in the agriculture sector hold the key to development and prosperity of the country and well placed emphasis on agriculture can kick-start the development process because of its direct and indirect association with all sectors of the economy."

The normal life of people in Avani, Menajenahalli and surrounding villages in the taluk has turned into complete hell due to the invasion of flies, alleged the villagers on Saturday.

Narayan Shetty started a big poultry farm in Yalagodanahalli and because of the lack of cleanliness the flies had increased.

Over 2000 chickens were culled in a poultry farm here Wednesday night following detection of bird flu.

Sources at the Upazila Veterinary Hospital said some chickens died at the poultry farm of Shahjahan Chowdhury in Rajashan Ghasmahal area in the last few days.

South African farmers have been offered 10 million hectares of farm land to grow maize, soya beans as well as poultry and dairy farming in the Republic of Congo, South Africa's main farmers union said on Wednesday.

KOLKATA, March 14: The Centre has proposed that areas within 5 kms from the international border with Bangladesh, will be kept poultry-free, in a strategy to prevent avian influenza from flaring up in border states like Assam and West Bengal.
Authorities suspect that the H5NI virus which afflicted the backyard poultry in the state, last year as well as this year, had its origin in Bangladesh.

Four Indonesians have died of bird flu, raising the death toll in the country hardest hit by the disease to 119, an official said Tuesday.
Bayu Krisnamurthi, chief of the National Bird Flu Commission, said all the victims were believed to have been infected after coming into contact with sick poultry. They were from the island of Java and died in January and February.

Siliguri, Feb. 25: The Darjeeling district administration has confirmed the presence of the bird flu virus in Punding and Khairani under Sukna panchayat near here today.

Balurghat, Feb. 23: Culling figures in Barhamhar have exceeded the target set by the animal resources development (ARD) department that was going by the last poultry census.