Kavre, July 7 -- Eight years ago, Pradip Karki invested Rs150,000 to start a poultry farm on rented land in Panauti Municipality-8, hoping to build a sustainable livelihood. Over time, the 43-year-old from Panauti Municipality-6 expanded the business to 5,000 layer chickens and was earning around Rs150,000 a month. Encouraged by steady returns, he had planned to double his flock.

Those plans collapsed three days ago when bird flu was confirmed at his Fresh Krishi Farm.

Following the confirmation, a team from the Department of Livestock Services culled all 5,000 chickens, destroyed eggs, feed and equipment that had come into contact with the infected birds, wiping out years of investment in a matter of hours.

"Years of hard work and mil...