ELAZIĞ (DİHA) - After the detection of avian influenza in Karşıyaka Quarter in Elazığ, guilds had to throw away chicken when people lost interest in chicken.

After the appearance of the avian flu in Elazığ, delicatessen store owners who sell more than 200 kilos of chicken daily emptied their counters. Guilds, who went on badly within a week, had to shut down said that they asked the state for support. Mehmet Bakır, one of the guilds selling chicken opposite İzzet Paşa Mosque for three years, said that they had to throw away all the chicken in their hands because of the avian influenza.

'State does not help'

Bakır, who said that his lost was great, said: "Because of the avian influenza in Elazığ a week ago, no one bought chicken, so we had to throw it away. We have families that we have to support. The state does not help those in loss in this sector. We even had to dismiss the workers we employ here. We call to the state. They have to find a remedy for this. So many people make their living from this sector. If this goes on, many people will have to shut down shops in Elazığ."

Employees were dismissed

Reşat Baysak, who sells chicken products, said that he had to throw away the 300 kilos of chicken and that he shut down his shop. Baysak, who said that he threw away the chicken in his shop and dismiss his employees after the bird flu was detected and the chicken in his hand was not sold, spoke: "I don't have any experience in another job. They have to find a remedy for our problem. I am at a loss of 15 000 YTL. If those in authority do not help us, many tradesmen in this field will go bankrupt."

From chicken meal to meat meal

Chicken meal was replaced by meat meal in the famous street of Elazığ. Guilds in this street, who now serve meat meals, said that they returned to red meat when people lost interest in chicken. Only one of them sells chicken meat in the street.

(Fotoğraf: Mücahit YALÇIN)

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