Government has paid GH₡ 1,067,355 as compensation to 25 farmers whose poultry and poultry products were destroyed to contain the outbreak of the Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) some months ago.
The compensation represents 90 per cent of the current market value of GH₡1,185,928 of poultry, poultry products and feed to affected farmers.
According to him, a total number of 44,144 birds and eggs were destroyed as part of measures to mitigate the spread.
Mr Fifi Kwetey, Minister of Food and Agriculture said his outfit is aware that the outbreak had affected the farmers financially, morally and socially, and expressed the hope that the compensation would help them recover from the shock.
He said that government is processing payment to cover rural farmers at Damfa, Otinibi and Kweiman in the Greater Accra Region, as well as Bawjiase in the Central Region.
The Minister who presented cheques to the affected farmers said the percentage of payment might not be satisfactory but was a step to invest the funds back into poultry production.
“ We are very much aware that the outbreak of bird flu on farms have negatively affected farmers financially, morally and socially, but we are hopeful that farmers have absorbed these difficulties and are ready to start all over again,” he said.
He commended the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the US Embassy for their consistent financial and technical support in prevention and control and control of the disease in the country.
Mr Victor Oppong Adjei, President of Ghana National Association of Poultry farmers commended government effort but expressed his displeasure for the associations exclusion in finding modalities for payment and the short notice of informing them about the payments.
Lt Colonel Edwin kwamena Sam a beneficiary of the compensation asked government to support poultry farmers to enable them meet the country’s poultry needs.
GNA