Centuries-old duck-rearing practice at risk as avian flu hits Kuttanad again

Recurring avian flu outbreaks have pushed Kuttanad’s centuries-old traditional duck farming to the brink of collapse.

The latest outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1)—the seventh in the region in the past 11 years—was confirmed earlier this week in one ward each of eight panchayats in Alappuzha district and in four villages in Kottayam. It has already resulted in the death of around 55,000 birds, including large numbers of ducks, chickens and quails in the two districts. Another 25,000 birds will be culled later this week as part of containment measures.

Duck farming has long been a consistent source of income for several families in Kuttanad. However, repeated bird flu outbreaks have severely affected livelihoods. Most farmers rear ducks twice a year, particularly targeting the Christmas and Easter festive seasons.

Huge losses

Ramachandran G., a seasoned duck farmer from Cheruthana in Alappuzha, lost 12,000 of his 15,000 ducks, which were 30 days old, to the latest outbreak. The remaining birds are scheduled to be culled in the coming days. “I was raising the ducks with an eye on the 2026 Easter season and have suffered losses to the tune of around ₹20 lakh. This is the second time I have incurred losses due to avian flu. In 2014, though my 4,500 ducks were not directly affected, they were culled as part of containment measures. I do not want to return to duck farming any time soon,” says the 67-year-old.

Though the outbreaks have directly affected only a small number of farmers, the impact has been widespread. Restrictions imposed by the authorities, as part of the efforts to contain the highly pathogenic virus, on the trade of duck meat and eggs—along with those of chicken and quail—have hit almost all stakeholders in the sector.

According to farmers’ associations, the number of large duck farmers in the backwater region—those with flocks of 2,000 birds or more—has declined sharply from about 1,500 to fewer than 250 over the years. “The latest outbreak, confirmed on the eve of Christmas, has all but ended hopes of a revival after last year’s outbreak and the subsequent restrictions on hatcheries and poultry operations. A decade ago, between 10 lakh and 15 lakh ducks were reared in the region annually. That number has now fallen to around three lakh and is certain to decline further. More big and small farmers are considering exiting the sector entirely. The government should provide compensation to the affected farmers soon,” says B. Rajasekharan, president, Aikya Tharavu Karshaka Sangham.

Open farming

Unlike poultry farming elsewhere, where birds are reared indoors, duck farming in Kuttanad—known for its vast backwaters and paddy fields—is largely conducted in the open. Farmers move ducks from one location to another for feeding. Experts say this practice increases vulnerability to diseases such as avian influenza as the region is frequented by migratory birds, believed to be a primary source of the virus. They warn that local duck breeds such as Chara and Chembally face the risk of extinction.

“Avian flu usually spreads through migratory birds, and continuous monitoring could help prevent outbreaks to some extent. Unfortunately, India lacks a system for monitoring migratory birds. Kuttanad attracts these birds due to its waterlogged terrain, and their arrival cannot be prevented. The government’s priority is to contain the spread, especially since there is a risk of the virus mutating,” says an Animal Husbandry department official, while urging the people to be more cautious.