The Veterinary Service Department (VSD) has scaled up disease surveillance and farmer education in the Eastern Region as part of measures to prevent any outbreak of the avian influenza (bird flu) in the region.
The region has not recorded any case of the bird flu, since the reported outbreak in parts of the country in May, last year, and the Regional Veterinary Officer, Dr. Kingston Mickey Aryee, says they were determined not to take chances.
Speaking at a meeting with the Parliamentary Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs in Koforidua, he said poultry farmers were being assisted to adopt appropriate bio-security measures on their farms.
There is also an on-going sensitization campaign to aid them together with the general public to identify and report any symptoms of the disease for swift response to contain and prevent its spread.
Dr. Aryee said the VSD was additionally visiting farms, live bird markets and running free post-mortem services.
They had opened their doors to the farmers and he called for all to remain vigilant.
Mr. Bright Demoji, Member of Parliament (MP) for Bortianor-Ngleshie-Amanfrom and acting Chairman of the Committee, said GHȼ11 million had been released from the contingency fund to fight the disease spread.
This, he said, was being done through combination of education, sensitization and compensation payment to affected farmers.
They as lawmakers attach a lot of importance to the poultry industry because of its huge potential to create jobs and grow the economy.
The MP said the Committee was on a nationwide tour to learn at first hand strategies put in place by the regions and to monitor how the released money was being spent.
Ms. Mavis Frimpong, the Regional Minister, pledged strong support for efforts at ensuring optimal performance of the agricultural sector.
Source: allghananews
