Beijing farmers to receive H7N9 subsidies

Poultry farmers in Beijing will receive subsidies to help them cope with shrinking demand caused by the H7N9 bird flu outbreak, the city's bureau of agriculture said on Friday.

Zhao Genwu, director of the bureau, said farmers will receive subsidies of 10 yuan for an adult breeder bird, 3 yuan for an adult layer and 2 yuan for an unfledged pigeon.

Farms will receive subsidies based on the number of birds they had at the end of March when the virus was discovered, said Su Qiufang, a media officer with the bureau.

Slaughterhouses will receive 700 yuan per ton of storage.

The program, which focuses on large poultry farms, which produce most of the eggs and meat in the local poultry industry, will last until May 13.