By Solomon Gumah
Tamale, June 09, GNA – The West Africa Centre for the Protection of Animal Welfare (WACPAW) has called on the government to urgently establish a national livestock and poultry insurance scheme and provide emergency support to poultry farmers affected by the recent devastating floods in Accra and other parts of the country.
WACPAW indicated that the floods, triggered by days of heavy rainfall, caused significant losses in the poultry sector with some farmers reportedly losing between 200 and 2,000 birds which threaten livelihoods and food security.
This was contained in a statement signed by Mr Abdul Rahman Safian, Executive Director of WACPAW, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Tamale.
The statement described the situation as a major setback for poultry farmers, many of whom it said relied solely on poultry production for income and had no insurance or savings to recover from such disasters.
It said poultry farms located in low-lying and peri-urban areas were particularly affected as floodwaters submerged poultry houses, killed birds and destroyed critical farm infrastructure.
It said “Some farmer families may lack adequate food to sustain themselves for some time or repay their loans.”
The statement observed that disasters such as floods, fires and disease outbreaks had repeatedly exposed the vulnerability of Ghana’s livestock and poultry sectors, yet many farmers remained without any form of financial protection.
It, therefore, underscored need for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the National Insurance Commission and the Ministry of Finance to prioritise the development and implementation of a national livestock and poultry insurance scheme.
It said such a scheme should cover losses resulting from floods, droughts, fires and disease outbreaks including avian influenza.
It proposed that the programme should offer affordable premiums with government subsidies for smallholder farmers, provide simple and rapid claims procedures during emergencies, and include educational campaigns to increase farmers’ awareness and participation.
The statement pledged WACPAW’s readiness to collaborate with government agencies, insurance regulators and international experts to develop a suitable livestock insurance framework for Ghana.
It warned that without timely intervention, many poultry farmers burdened with feed debts and other financial obligations, could be forced to abandon farming altogether.
It proposed a range of immediate interventions including the restocking of affected farms with chicks, provision of disinfectants and veterinary support services, rehabilitation of damaged poultry structures, short-term cash transfers and food assistance as well as funding for rapid assessments of losses.
It explained that when farmers experienced severe economic shocks, they often struggled to provide adequate care, nutrition and veterinary services for their animals thereby compromising animal welfare standards.
The statement also highlighted the growing threat of climate change and said the recent flooding underscored the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events affecting Ghana’s agricultural sector.
It urged policymakers and stakeholders to strengthen climate resilience measures within the agricultural sector including insurance mechanisms and disaster preparedness systems.
The statement called on the government to launch a national livestock and poultry insurance initiative within the next 90 days and urged the National Insurance Commission to fast-track regulations that would facilitate the development of agricultural insurance products tailored specifically to small-scale livestock farmers.
It also called on the media to amplify the voices of affected farmers and support advocacy efforts aimed at securing timely interventions.
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh/Kenneth Odeng Adade