By Yvonne Atilego
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture says it has put in an urgent request to Cabinet to get compensation for poultry farmers affected by the recent Bird flu disease. The Ministry last month announced the outbreak of the Avian Influenza disease in three regions which affected several farms with close to 110 thousand birds destroyed so far.
Most farmers affected say they fear that if they do not receive any compensation from the government to cushion them their businesses are likely to fold up as they are also battling with the high cost of feed for their birds. However, speaking at a media briefing in Accra, Dr Owusu Afriyie-Akoto noted that compensation for such farmers is highly being considered and assured them of governments commitment to the sector.
Meanwhile, on the issue of maize shortage, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, that is to be expected, because it is seasonal, getting to the end of the year due to shortage of fertiliser. Persons within Ghana’s food production value chain had earlier issued a warning of looming food shortage if measures are not immediately taken to resolve the unavailability of fertilizer in the country by the end of the year. According to them the situation had affected average food yield in a way. Dr Owusu Afriyie-Akoto who acknowledged the shortage said the problem is a global one but said plans are far advanced to make fertiliser available for farmers.
