Bird flu: USAID trains 400 scientists, farmers in Kano

Addressing participants at the workshop, representative of Mission Director USAID Nigeria, Mr. Harvey Schartup, stated that avian  influenza is a serious threat to the economy and human health of any affected nation, adding that it is fortunate that there are no human cases in Nigeria.He said reports have shown that the outbreak has been confirmed […]

Addressing participants at the workshop, representative of Mission Director USAID Nigeria, Mr. Harvey Schartup, stated that avian  influenza is a serious threat to the economy and human health of any affected nation, adding that it is fortunate that there are no human cases in Nigeria.
He said reports have shown that the outbreak has been confirmed in 18 states in Nigeria and that hundreds of thousands of birds were affected. Mr. Schartup also revealed that over N645 million is expected to be paid in compensation to the farmers and farms by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.
He further revealed that after the training, USAID will sponsor and hold worships in a number of states across the nation and procure government suggested supplies and equipment for distribution.
The director, Veterinary Services Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Abdulganiu Abubakar, who represented the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Akinwumi Adesina, at the workshop stated that since the outbreak of the avian influenza in Nigeria early this year, over 1 million birds have been killed in over 255 affected farms in the country.
He added that, in its effort to save the poultry sector from collapse due to the heavy losts, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture has succeeded in paying N600 million as compensation to 140 affected farmers nationwide.
He said Kano being the most affected state with 158 affected farms out of the 255 in the nation, the minister personally paid a visit to the state to see how the spread of the virus can be curtailed.