THE Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries last month began selling mobile phones at reduced rates to poultry farmers in areas of Sagaing and Mandalay divisions affected by bird flu outbreaks earlier in the year, said an official from the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department.

“The phones will allow updated information from areas with virus outbreaks to be distributed quickly,” said department director Dr Than Tun.

He said two centres will be set up in Monywa township in Sagaing Division and in the city of Mandalay to collect and share information received from infected areas.

The ministry plans to eventually sell 600 mobile phones to poultry farmers, as well as to local employees of the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department and Myanmar Livestock Federation, at the reduced government rate.

Dr Than Tun said the program was set up by the ministry in cooperation with the Ministry of Communications, Posts and Telegraphs following the advice of international bird flu experts.

He said mobile phones will provide a vital information network in areas with poor transportation and commun-ication infrastructure.

In March, bird flu hit 13 townships in Sagaing and Mandalay divisions. About 650,000 birds were destroyed during the two-month outbreak, resulting in total losses of K427 million to farmers in the area.