CHENNAI, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- The highly pathogenic version of avian influenza H5N1 that created havoc in the poultry sector last year, is likely to resurface in India, a top UN official warned Tuesday.

Launching the "Knowledge on Wheels" programme at the M.S. Swaminathan Foundation here, PTI quoted Director General of Food and Agricultural Organization Jacques Diouf as saying, "there are possibilities that avian influenza H5N1 would flare up again with a potential catastrophe for the poultry industry".

Factors like size of poultry sector, density of production plants, combination of large-scale commercial and small holder units, live bird markets, mix of domestic waterfowl and terrestrial poultry species with wild water birds could determine the spread and persistence of the disease, as observed in other Asian countries, he said.

"Given the presence and persistence of H5N1 viruses in neighboring countries, it is possible that India will face repeated incursions of this important threat to both animals and humans," he said.

Further, he said that FAO will put in place a full-fledged bio-energy programme by the end of 2007 to make sustainable use of bio-mass resources.

The increasing demand for bio-energy could result in the situation where the poor lacked access to energy, food, land and water.

The production of bio-energy might have substantial effect on agricultural world markets and food prices, he said adding there might be strong implications for food availability and prices.-- BERNAMA