Non availability of disaster fund hinders bird flu compensation

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.