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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Bird-flu outbreak rattles Nandurbar

Around 2.40 lakh hens culled, Nine-lakh eggs destroyed Mumbai: For the third time in 20 years, Avian Influenza has hit Navapur, in Nandurbar district, with over 2.40 lakhs birds culled in the past few days as worried farmers await compensation and effective vaccines. In some areas, all the infected birds in big and small farms have been eliminated by specialist teams, as per World Health Organisation (WHO) and central government’s guidelines. This is the third time after 2006 and 2021...

Bird-flu outbreak rattles Nandurbar

Around 2.40 lakh hens culled, Nine-lakh eggs destroyed Mumbai: For the third time in 20 years, Avian Influenza has hit Navapur, in Nandurbar district, with over 2.40 lakhs birds culled in the past few days as worried farmers await compensation and effective vaccines. In some areas, all the infected birds in big and small farms have been eliminated by specialist teams, as per World Health Organisation (WHO) and central government’s guidelines. This is the third time after 2006 and 2021 that the town – which produces 10-lakh eggs daily – has come under the attack of Avian Influenza, commonly known as ‘bird flu’, said Navapur Poultry Association (NPA) President Arief Balesaria. “We rank the biggest in production of eggs by Layer Chicken after Pune and Baramati. There are other egg producing centres in the state. The Layer Chicken are among the best laying hens. But in the past fortnight or so, our production has come to a complete stop,” a concerned Balesaria told The Perfect Voice. The 10-lakh eggs are sent to markets in Mumbai, Nashik, Jalgaon and even Surat, which will now be fed by other smaller suppliers from Maharashtra or other states, he said. The outbreak in Navapur started mysteriously on April 12, when a local farmer discovered five dead chickens in his farm. Initially it was suspected to be heatstroke and a local Veterinary prescribed medicines, but by afternoon more than four dozen birds were snuffed out. By next morning, the farmer lost more than 300 chickens even as other alarmed farmers in a three-km vicinity reported similar tragedies as the birds simply dropped dead without apparent symptoms, said Balesaria. In Balesaria’s own Wasim Poultry Farm, the situation was ditto – five days after the first incident, he found 55 birds dead and by that evening, over 130 were no more, though the chickens were eating normally and not appearing sick. After the local authorities were informed, samples were collected from three of the worst-hit farms and tested at the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal. They tested positive for the dreaded ‘Avian Influenza’, shocking the poultry farmers in Navapur. Swift Action Nandurbar Collector Dr. Mittali Sethi swung into action and declared large parts of Navapur as an ‘infected and surveillance’, spread over nearly 10 kms radius, banned all sale of poultry, bird-feed, and other related materials for three months, and local police were deployed to enforce the restrictions. Meanwhile, by Monday, the infection figures zoomed up dramatically and till May 6, over 2.40 lakhs birds have been culled, nearly 9-lakh eggs destroyed plus 210 tonnes of bird feed disposed off, said Balesaria of the sudden calamity. State and district officials have expressed apprehensions that the toll could climb much higher and have enforced strict monitoring in Navapur and also other egg-producing centres in north Maharashtra region. Culling continues with the help of 18 officers daily while over 125 veterinarians and support staff have fanned out in the affected zone. His son and third-generation independent farmer Tausif B. is grappling with his first bird-flu calamity and is worried about the future with his entire stock of 6 lakh eggs, 62,000 birds and 72-tons of feed destroyed. “This time, my farm was not affected. But according to official protocols, my 30,000 chickens were culled and over 60,000 eggs destroyed. The government has banned us from restarting or restocking for at least three months, or till July 31, when the crisis is expected to be over. Presently, we are sitting idle and helpless as the losses pile up for all the 27 NPA member-farms,” rued Balesaria. Farmers cry for better vaccines As death stalks egg farms in Navapur, distressed farmers urged the Centre to urgently permit more effective vaccines to contain the spread of Avian Influenza, as existing measures are proving inadequate. The NPA leaders claimed that the currently approved vaccines target the relatively milder H9N2 strain, while farms in the region are being devastated by the far more lethal H5N1 virus. “The government has allowed vaccines for H9N2 strain. But the Layer chickens are hit by the deadlier H5N1 strain. Vaccines for H5N1 are already in use in several countries, including China, the United States and parts of Europe. Why are we being denied access to the same protection?” asked the NPA leaders. India currently does not allow use of H5N1 vaccines, citing various concerns and relies on the traditional culling, movement restrictions and biosecurity measures in such outbreaks, though NPA alleges that Indian vaccine manufacturers are creating obstacles for getting better vaccines.

Shaping adaptable anticounterfeiting global approach

In Africa, a child dies from malaria every five minutes due to counterfeit antimalarial drugs. This stark reality became the driving force behind Ennoventure’s pursuit of a reliable anti-counterfeiting solution. Today, the company’s solution safeguards products from counterfeiting and empowers consumers by making product authentication accessible and transparent. In a conversation, Padmakumar Nair, Founder and CEO of Ennoventure Inc., talks about the company’s success in delivering a powerful, practical tool that enhances brand trust and ensures product integrity. Excerpts…

Q. What were the significant funding milestones in Ennoventure’s journey, and how did they influence the company’s growth?

Ennoventure Inc. has achieved several significant funding milestones since its inception in 2018, each contributing to its growth and global expansion in the fight against counterfeiting. Ennoventure secured $1 million in seed funding from angel investors, providing the initial capital to develop its patented invisible cryptographic signature technology aimed at authenticating product packaging without altering existing manufacturing processes. At present, we have presence in the USA, UAE, India, and beyond.


Q. How does Ennoventure’s technology work to prevent counterfeiting?

Ennoventure’s SaaS-based brand protection solution, is built to integrate seamlessly into existing packaging design, without requiring any process changes or added CAPEX. Brands simply upload their artwork onto our portal, download the encrypted version, and print it as usual. Once the product reaches the market, end consumers can verify its authenticity by scanning it via a microsite or a customizable dedicated app. At the heart of our technology is an invisible cryptographic code embedded into the packaging using AI and cryptography, making it impossible for counterfeiters to detect or replicate. Unlike visible tracking systems, Ennoventure’s technology operates silently and securely. Additionally, the platform serves an educational purpose, offering insights such as product composition, manufacturing date, and potential side effects.


Q. What industries does Ennoventure serve, and how does its business model operate?

Ennoventure serves a diverse range of industries where product authenticity is critical, including pharmaceuticals, FMCG, agrochemicals, automotive, and personal care. These sectors face significant challenges from counterfeiting and parallel trade, which can compromise consumer safety, brand integrity, and revenue. We operate primarily as a B2B company, collaborating with brand managers, product heads, and packaging leads who are focused on ensuring product authenticity and consumer trust.


Q. How has Ennoventure influenced its approach to global anti-counterfeiting solutions?

Ennoventure’s presence across the USA, India, and the GCC has played a pivotal role in shaping a truly global and adaptable approach to anti-counterfeiting. Each region brings unique challenges, ranging from regulatory demands and consumer behavior to the scale and sophistication of counterfeiting networks. Our exposure to these diverse markets has enabled us to build a solution that is scalable, and operationally seamless. Across these regions, our focus has been on innovation and scalable integration, aligning with global compliance standards and the expectations of mature markets. We’ve gained deep insights into large-scale manufacturing ecosystems and supply chain complexities, allowing us to engineer a solution that works without disrupting existing workflows, reinforcing our commitment to agile, mobile-first authentication.


Q. How does Ennoventure distinguish itself in the anti-counterfeiting industry?

Ennoventure sets itself apart in the anti-counterfeiting space through its non-intrusive, AI and cryptography-powered solution that embeds invisible cryptographic signatures directly onto product packaging, without requiring any changes to existing design, ink, or manufacturing processes. Unlike traditional methods such as QR codes, holograms, or stickers that are easily replicated or tampered with, our covert and non-reproducible technology ensures a much higher level of security. Our SaaS platform, enables brands to encrypt packaging artwork seamlessly, while our product authentication app allows real-time product verification using just a smartphone. To enhance the consumer journey further, we transform the moment of authentication into a brand engagement opportunity. With the ability to deploy in under 48 hours, no CAPEX requirements, Ennoventure delivers a cost-effective, scalable, and secure solution that protects products, educates consumers, and builds trust across the value chain.


Q. Which notable companies have partnered with Ennoventure to implement its anti-counterfeiting technology?

Ennoventure has partnered with major brands including Nestlé, Reckitt, DENSO and CNH to implement its advanced anti-counterfeiting technology. These collaborations span key sectors such as FMCG and automotive parts, where product authenticity is critical. By integrating Ennoventure’s invisible, non-reproducible cryptographic signatures, these companies are enhancing product security and ensuring customer trust.


Q. Which new markets is Ennoventure targeting for expansion?

Ennoventure is strategically expanding into several key international markets to address the growing demand for advanced anti-counterfeiting solutions. The company is focusing on expanding in the United States, in addition to strengthening its presence in Europe, and India.

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