FG Earmarks N600m To Compensate Farmers Affected By Bird Flu

The federal government has set aside the sum of N600 million to compensate farmers whose farms were affected by the avian influenza (Bird Flu).

“So far, 300 farmers were identified as being affected from 18 states of the federation where the disease had manifested,” the minister of agriculture and rural development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, said.

He made this known at a function at Tahir Guest Palace Hotel, Kano, on Monday, during the “Training-of-Trainers on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Workshop,” organised by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the federal government of Nigeria.

Adesina was represented by a director from the ministry, Dr AbdulGaniu Abubakar, who further stated that 255 farms were so far detected as being affected by the disease.

“One million birds have been depopulated. Our record shows that out of the 255 farms that were affected, Kano has the largest share with 158 farms affected in the 18 states,” he revealed.

He called on the government of Kano State to be up and doing in combating the disease.

“We directed our staff at the ministry to work hand in hand with the Kano State Government in controlling the menace,” stated the minister’s representative.

(Leadership)