Tamale, June 01, GNA - The consumption of chicken products had reduced considerable in the Tamale Metropolis as a result of reported cases of the outbreak of the bird flu disease in some parts of the country.

Visits by the GNA on Thursday to many cold stores in the metropolis had revealed that dealers of chicken and its products were worried about the trend since their businesses had taken a major negative turn.

At the Enson Nyameye Cold Store, the seller said, most customers immediately stopped eating chicken including, imported chicken products. He said previously he could make a sale three to four kettle a day but could now sell only one kettle a day.

Another chicken product dealer who pleaded anonymity blamed the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and the Veterinary officials for doing little to prevent the disease from entering the country. She claimed MOFA officials had failed to deliver their earlier promise of preventing the disease from entering the country adding; "They promised going run to inspect poultry farms but failed to do so until farmers reported the signs of the disease in their farms to them before they acted."

She said her sales had gone down from 300 crates of eggs a week to about 80 to 100 crates and blamed her woes on the MOFA.