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GH¢20 Million Spent In Containing Bird Flu Outbreak – Agric Minister
The Minister of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto has said that the government granted approval for the immediate recruitment and deployment of an initial 550 veterinary professionals, out of a total of 1100 Professionals, procurement of vehicles, motorbikes, and laboratory equipment for the smooth operations of the Veterinary Services Directorate as part of efforts to contain the Bird flu outbreak.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, March 9, on matters relating to the payment of compensation to affected poultry farmers, he said, as of now, the government has released GH¢20,105,718.03.
The amount, according to him, was meant for stamping out, decontamination and disposal materials, compensation to currently affected farmers and some outstanding, compensation from 2015-2018, the roll-out of a Communication plan.
“Following the release of part of the approved funds, it was observed that between July and December 2021, the number of farms and birds affected has doubled. As of October 2021 when the Cabinet memo was approved 261,000 birds, 1,243 bags of feed, and 1,447 crates of eggs had been destroyed as a result of the disease.
“However, by 31st December 2021, which was used as the cut-off point for the payment of this compensation, the total number of birds affected by the Bird Flu is 554,638. The quantity of the feed destroyed had increased to 1,701.5 bags and 2,548 crates of egg were affected. This situation depicts an increased number of birds, the quantity of feed, and crates of eggs destroyed.
“To ensure all affected farmers from July to December 31st, 2021 receive some compensation for any losses incurred as a result of the outbreak, the Ministry has agreed to pay GH¢30.00 for a matured bird, GH¢20.00 for a pullet, GH¢10.00 per chick, GH¢80.00 for a bag of feed and GH¢10.00 for a crate of egg-based on the amount available immediately.
“You would recall my recent press briefing communicating to you various measures that have been put in place regarding the outbreak of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in 2021. In that briefing I indicated amongst others, the approval for the release of an emergency budget support of approximately Forty-Four million Ghana Cedis (GH¢44 million) to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture,” he said.