Poultry farmers in Sekondi-Takoradi are living in fear following another suspected outbreak of bird flu.
News of suspected bird flu outbreak at Eshiem near Kojokrom has put many of farmers on edge.
A farmer at Race Course, Kwaku Anokye in an interview with Connect FM’s Ewurama Smith said he was living in fear.
“I am scared and live each day in fear. I haven’t yet recovered from the outbreak in 2021. Three thousand of my birds were slaughtered. I am just praying this one passes me by,” he said.
Chairman of the Effia Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly Poultry Farmers Association, Ambassador Kofi Dossah tells Connect FM’s Ewurama Smith that many of his colleagues are yet to recover from the last episode whilst many have also given up and are no more in the poultry business.
He cautions that delays in compensating affected farmers may lead to cover ups and adverse health implications.
“The way we have to wait for about 2 years before being reimbursed, this is what is going to happen –some farmers will now want to cover up. They either will kill their own birds, dress them and go and sell them on the market or bury them in their own houses to avoid any inconveniences,” he indicated.
He also pointed out that “some people are owing so much at the banks and the banks are on them so if they will be able to sell the carcasses, to even raise something small to pay off their debts, they will do that. If they have to wait for two years, in fact some waited for seven years after the other outbreak. In fact, what sort of business is that?”
Meanwhile the farmers have adopted what they call a bio-security where a mixture of a chemical called omnicide is used to disinfect before entering the coops.
In a related development, the Western Regional Veterinary Officer, Dr. Simon Gbene, has confirmed the outbreak.
READ ALSO: Mahama jabs Akufo-Addo for collapsing poultry industry
By Ewurama Smith|ConnectFM|Takoradi
