Executive Secretary of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, Lagos
State chapter, Mr. Olugbenga Ogunsetan, confirmed this yesterday
in Lagos.
He said several poultry farms were affected by the avian
influenza in Ikorodu area of the state.
“Over 60,000 birds were lost in August after the avian influenza
ravaged the farms.
“This has largely affected production of poultry products and
leading to price hike in the area,” Ogunsetan said.
Meanwhile, the state government said it was making arrangement
with the Federal Government for compensation to the affected
poultry farmers.
The Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Agriculture,
Dr. Olajide Basorun, who spoke on the compensation move,
corroborated the severity claim by the PAN scribe.
He said that compensating affected farmers would encourage
others, who were afraid to report the case, to come forward.
“The Lagos state government, in collaboration with the Federal
government, is already thinking of ways to support these farmers,
whose poultry were affected by the scourge.
“Many economies have shut down because of this avian influenza
and these economies have dependants, which mean a lot of
people have lost their livelihoods.
“Government is mindful of that and is working out modalities to
compensate the farmers so that others, who have the flu and
have not reported or are under reporting, will be encouraged to
come forward,” he said.
The permanent secretary said government does not want a
scenario were the farmers, who do not report, will sell their
birds to unsuspecting public.
He said where there was a reported case, the ministry had moved
swiftly to conduct tests and depopulate such farm.
Source:vanguard
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