SWABI, March 3: A large number of poultry farmers in the district have closed their farms after the spread of news about the outbreak of the bird flu virus in the area.

Talking to Dawn on Wednesday, poultry farmers said chicken prices had registered 30 per cent decline in the recent days but people still preferred to buy beef or mutton.

They said no evidence had been found about the presence of the bird flu virus in the district. They said news of the bird flu had destroyed their business and if the situation continued it would force them to go bankrupt.

The poultry farmers said in the given circumstances it was not possible for them to continue their business. "We can't afford to purchase feed at exorbitant rates and sell chickens at throwaway prices," they maintained.

"I have closed my poultry farm and now considering switching to some other business," Farooq Khan of Palodand said and added that those who were still running their farms wondered how could they survive.

The poultry farmers said spring was not only a wedding season, it also provided their business a good beginning, but people had started excluding chicken items from wedding menu.

"A few days ago, two tobacco companies arranged big ceremonies to launch the tree plantation campaign in which they offered beef and mutton. Last year the same companies had spent Rs10,000 on buying of chickens. This shows where we stand now and how much loss has we have incurred," said a chicken seller.

TEACHER KILLED: A physical education teacher was shot dead here on Wednesday. Ali Jan, a resident of Sheikh Jan, had developed differences with his cousins over a piece of land.

Ali Jan wanted his cousins to hand him over the plot at any price, claiming that it belonged to him. However, his cousins disputed his claim. On Wednesday when Ali Jan was returning to his home from mosque his cousins opened fire on him with Kalashnikovs and fled, killing him on the spot. Police have registered an FIR against Mukhtiar and Nasar.