Govt pumps more funds into H7N9-hit poultry sector

BEIJING - The Chinese government has injected more funds into the poultry sector, which has been reeling from the effects of the H7N9 avian influenza virus since March.

The government has allocated another 300 million yuan ($48.54 million) to boost the poultry sector, the Ministry of Finance said Thursday.

The move came after the government had injected 600 million yuan into the sector in May and another 300 million yuan in June.

The subsidies will mainly be used to cut interest rates for short-term loans to poultry enterprises.

The latest figures from the China Animal Agriculture Association show that the industry has recorded more than 40 billion yuan in losses since the H7N9 outbreak in March.

In addition to the subsidies from the central government, 10 provinces, including Henan, Shandong and Guangdong, have issued preferential policies to help poultry breeders.

To prevent the spread of the H7N9 virus, the government had ordered poultry to be culled in some areas since March. It also closed live poultry markets to reduce human contact with birds.