JOS – The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) in Plateau has decried the Federal Government non-payment of compensation to farms affected by Avian Influenza popularly known as Bird flu.
The Chairman of the association, Mr John Dasar, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on Sunday that non-payment of compensation had triggered the spread of the disease.
He said that most farmers were yet to believe government’s sincerity and prefer to sale suspected infected birds to marketers at cheaper rates.
“We have over 153 farmers on the Plateau that their farms were closed down completely because of the disease but no compensations.
“If 50 per cent of our affected farmers were paid compensation, I don’t think the spread of the disease would have reached this very level.
“Since February, only two out of the many famers affected in the state were compensated,’’ he said.
Also, Alhaji Badiru Yemi, a poultry famer, said “Bird flu will be curtail only when government begin to match its words with action by adequately compensating farmers affected by the disease’’.
Yemi said his farm was closed down six months ago when his farm was infected by bird flu, but he was yet to be compensated.
He said that the selling or transferring birds infected with the disease was hampering government efforts at curtailing the spread of the disease.
“I want to categorically say that farmers should not be blame for any action taken because we no longer have confidence in the government who will say one thing today and another tomorrow.
“Poultry farming has been our means of livelihood; we are contributing largely to this nation’s economy.
“I see no reason why government should not come to our aid to ameliorate our plights within the shortest possible time.
“China and Egypt had similar situation and affected farmers were compensated within 48 hours, but here, it’s almost six months now and nothing yet,’’ Yemi, a Poultry for 10 years, said.
Similarly, Alhaji Moshood Okanlawon, an affected farmer, told NAN that the economic implication of bird flu on the nation’s economy had a wider chain because poultry farming was a viable business.
“The incursion of bird flu has really affected the economy of Plateua State and the nation at large because poultry business is very lucrative.
“I use to have 21 workers under my payroll, but I have to disengage them because the dreaded disease has left us with no option but to do that. I lost over 19,800 birds.
“The implication on the economy has a wider a chain because it has affected the farmers that provide us with the crops, the feeds millers and we the poultry farmers,’’ Okanlawon said.
Another farmer, Alhaji Abdulazeez Qamarudeen, who said over 3, 650 of his birds were infected, called on government to adequately compensate the farmers.
He added that poultry farming contribute greatly to the GDP of the nation owing to the high level of employment and business opportunities it usually creates.
“Poultry industry no doubt has creates a lot of employment opportunities because from the farmer, the workers, those trading on eggs, feeds millers, local famers and host of others are usually employed.
“This is why government must not neglect this very sector of the economy because when it collapse, it will be very bad for us,’’ Qamarudeen said
However, Dr Ayuba Haruna, Desk Officer, Animal Health in the state’s Ministry of Agriculture, has assured affected farmers of Federal Government’s readiness to compensate them.
Haruna said that the compensations might not be immediate, but assured that since documentations of affected farms had been done the compensation would be pay.
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He called for patience, adding that government would do all within its powers to ensure nobody was left out in the payment plan.
“Federal government has so far spent over N145 million in compensating affected poultry farmers nationwide who were captured in the first batch.
“For us on the Plateau, the two farmers who were captured in the first batch were compensated accordingly.
“So, that should give some sort of assurance to other farmers affected that they will be paid,’’ Haruna said.
He called on farmers not to sell their birds at cheap rate out of desperations.
Haruna appealed to them to report to appropriate authorities if they suspect that their farms were infected by the disease to avert further spread. (NAN)