Be it Christmas or Easter ‘Kuttanadan’ duck roast has pride of place on the dining tables of Central Travancore families. But with the COVID-19-induced lockdown restrictions in place, many foodies have decided to give the dish a miss this Easter. For hundreds of duck farmers and retailers, the pain is even greater with business going south.
Bency Thurathayil, a seasoned duck farmer at Champakulam, had reared 10,000 birds with an eye on Easter. He says only 10% of the ducks have been sold till Saturday afternoon. “I have been engaged in duck farming for the past four decades. Days before Easter and Christmas, I used to receive bulk orders. But, with lockdown in place, we are receiving far fewer orders when compared to last year’s. Local sales too have fallen with people choosing to stay indoors,” says Bency, who is also the secretary of the Alappuzha Jilla Tharavu Karshaka Sangham.
Four lakh ducks
Duck farmers say it is the biggest crisis they have faced after the bird flu of 2014 and 2016. They have reared more than four lakh ducks for the festival period.
According to them, rearing a duck costs around ₹110, while a duck weighing between 1.5 kg and 2 kg would fetch them anywhere between ₹210 and ₹250. Ducks reared in Kuttanad have many takers, especially in Ernakulam and nearby areas. Besides, ducks are sold at roadside shops along the Alappuzha-Changanassery road, with each selling an average 1,000 ducks during the festival period.
Sophy Jose and her husband have been running a duck stall at Kaithavana for the past 14 years. The couple have bought 200 ducks from a farmer in view of Easter but could only sell less than 20 ducks in the last two days. “We have stopped taking stocks from farmers, as there is hardly any sales even for the cut price. People are reluctant to come to the shop for fear of being caught by the police,” says Sophy.
Although some farmers and outlets have announced home delivery of dressed and undressed ducks, it has failed to spur the sale in a great way, says Benny, a farmer from Champakulam.
