Chief Audu Ogbeh |
*Minister to write Governors,
insists on solution, farmers demand compensation without border
* Farmers demand compensation
without border
*Disagreement of farmers’ registration
The Minister of Agriculture,
Chief Audu Ogbeh has disclosed that non availability of agriculture disaster
fund has been the reason why the ministry could not fulfill all the outstanding
payments of 2015-2016 that was promised to poultry farmers who suffered losses
as a result of an outbreak of Avian Influenza popularly known as Birds flu
within this period.
Speaking to the audience of
stakeholders and states’ commissioners of Agriculture at the National Consultative
Meeting on birds flu control, Chief Ogbeh lamented on none fund provision for
agricultural disasters such as bird flu saying budget for such is always turned
down by the planning and budget ministry thereby stressed the need for the
adequate funding that would ensure immediate tackling of a problem of this
nature promptly.
Also, the Minister has
unveiled the new compensation payment policy to poultry farmers saying 75% of
the losses would be shared between the Federal and states government at ration
50% to 25% respectively as the farm owner bears the 25% burden that would be
paid only to those with 3000 and below birds, pointed that any one above 4000
must take cover for premium.
Although, this new
compensation position did not go down with some
of the affected poultry farmers who felt the compensation must not be
limited to small scale farmers, argued that the policy would hamper expansion
especially in the face of the school feeding programme where about 25 million eggs per day is needed for school children.
On the issue of paying compensation,
the minister speaking to the commissioners lamented on the poor funding of
agricultural sector pointed that only few governors are giving adequate funding
support to agriculture saying he would personally write them for the money to
be paid just as he promised to seek the assistance of the President in the same
regards.
Although, the Federal
Government had paid a part payment of N707, 969,987 to 276 affected farmers as stated by the Minister who
highlighted some of the challenges confronting poultry industry with a
resolution to proffer solution to the spread of the disease through bio safety
measure, pointed out that no vaccine has been found to cure it even in the
advanced countries where the occurrence of the disease outbreak was as well
feasible.
According to the minister“fund
challenges has been the problem of the ministry. In 2016 budget we were only
given N32billion with outstanding debt of N67 billion to the agro dealer. Provision
for agriculture disaster is always struck out of the budget by the planning and
budget ministry. So we pay compensation through contingency budget. World Bank
and the rest are the ones assisting us.
We are going to pay this compensation,
and we will rely on intervention fund. My worry is the states that are paying.
I sympathize with the state commissioners of agriculture as I know it will be
difficult to convince your governors. I
know only 12 states invest in agriculture. America is putting $ 9 billion on
compensation, but here there is none in Nigeria. I will personally be writing
Governors letter after this meeting. The states must be able to help as poultry
farmers will be compensated as I will also present the case to Mr. President”
But farmers have insisted on
the payment of the compensation for the affected members to be able to bounce
back into production so as to prevent some who may want to sell back the
affected chicken through the back door thereby spreading the disease to the
members of the public.
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