Ashaiman, May 07, GNA - Tema Municipal Poultry and Livestock Farmers Association (PLFA) on Monday appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and the Veterinary Services Division (VET) to embark on public education on the outbreak of the Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) to allay the fears of the consuming public.

This would help save the industry from collapse because education would encourage the public to continue patronizing poultry products. Mr Ellis Aferi, Chairman of the PLFA, said this at a press conference the association held in reaction to the outbreak of the disease. He expressed surprise that though the Minister of MOFA, Mr Ernest Debrah, who announced the outbreak last Wednesday gave the assurance that it was safe to consume poultry products, the ministry has closed all live bird markets.

Mr Aferi appealed to MOFA and VET to allow the farmers to sell the products since they are yet to get confirmation about the outbreak of the disease from World Health Organisation (WHO) in Italy where samples of the virus had been sent.

He complained that for about five months VET had not been able to supply them with vaccines for the birds even on persistent demands and blamed it for any outbreak in the municipality.

Mr Aferi advised all the 180 farmers to observe absolute precautionary measures by adhering to the expert advice and laid down regulations. Touching on compensation to members should there be any outbreak on their farm he said "we want payment before the birds are destroyed." "We want compensation that will be commensurate with our expenditure because feed and drugs for the birds are very expensive."

The farmers are also demanding that after destruction they expect that they would be given loans on low interest to re-start their farms. "Anything short of these we the farmers will not accept and we will not co-operate with anybody to enter our farms".