We lost over N500 Million to bird flu – Kano farmers

The Poultry Farmers’ Association of Nigeria, Kano branch has disclosed that it members has lost over 500 million to the recent outbreak of bird flu in the state.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), on Tuesday reported that Kano, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Nasarawa, Kaduna and the Niger States have confirmed human cases of Avian Influenza H5N1 also called “Bird flu.”

Reporting the damage caused by the flu while speaking with reporters in Kano, Umar Kibiya, chairman of the association, said on Wednesday that 223,695 birds were affected, noting that each costs not less than N1,800.

“At least, 223,695 chickens have been affected so far. They have been depopulated. This is worth over N402 million. There are also some that are not confirmed. They run into hundreds of thousands. So, the amount of the loss is over N500 million,” he said.

“We, therefore, urge the state government to be up and doing to mitigate the outbreak of this disease. We know the government is doing its best, but we appeal for more.

“Government should further enlighten and educate poultry farmers on how to protect their birds from being affected by this disease. Fumigation and disinfection should be sustained at the live-bird markets and other places.”

Also speaking, the director of veterinary services in the Kano State ministry of agriculture and natural resources, Bello Bala confirmed the outbreak.

He said the state got hold of the flu when a man brought his ailing bird for diagnosis.

He added that more than 40 farms were affected and, the federal ministry of agriculture has expressed willingness to compensate some of the farmers.