Mr Victor Oppong Adjei, Chairman of the Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers (GNAPF), has appealed to insurance companies for an insurance package for viral diseases to cushion poultry farmers who are affected by the viral infections outbreaks in birds across the country.

According to Mr Adjei, the state of insurance cover for poultry farmers amidst the recent outbreak of Avian Flu in the country leaves many farmers with no hope. He thus, said “Poultry farmers are running at a loss due to the outbreak and lack of insurance cover for such viral emergencies.”

The Chairman of the Association meanwhile, bemoaned the unavailability of insurance packages for viral diseases in the industry. Mr Adjei noted that most of the insurance companies’ policies are only prepared to provide insurance cover for bacteria infectious diseases as against viral infectious diseases because “they claimed it was easily treatable and less dangerous.” He gave insight into some of the viral diseases that are not covered by insurance companies. They include: Newcastle, Fowl Pox and Avian Flu (Bird Flu).

“Some farms have been insured already, but most of the insurance go to fire, and other things which the insurance companies are ready to insure. Much as human beings have life, so also do birds have life. So, there are some pertinent things that a farmer is expected to have, especially in insuring the birds on health issues.

“We have two basic health issues. We have the bacteria and the viral ones. But we had some discussions with some insurance people [companies] and they are only ready to insure those that are bacteria infected, but for most of our cases, it is the viral that is disturbing the farmers.”
Mr Victor Oppong Adjei

GNAPF to Continue to Fight for Viral Infections in Insurance

In furtherance, Mr Adjei noted that the leadership of the Association will continue to engage insurance companies to try and find solutions to the issue, as it has become even more necessary due to the recent outbreak of the Avian Flu diseases in the country.

Asked if the Association had contacted the National Insurance Commission (NIC) on the proposal, the Chair of the Association responded otherwise, adding that “we will soon contact them in order to find a lasting solution to the issue.”

The Chairperson of the Greater Accra Poultry Farmers Association (GAPFA), Mrs Gifty Rodor, who shared her thoughts on the issue, explained that the Association at various forums engaged government officials on the issue, but it has yielded no results.

Mrs Gifty Rodor underscored the need for insurance policy for both bacterial and viral infectious diseases, as well as the mandatory acquisition of a biosecurity certification by poultry farmers from the Veterinary Service Directorate (VSD).

The possession of the certificate, she said, “will help the insurance company to be sure that the farmer has a biosecurity certification which shows that he or she is not supposed to have any viral disease unless it is a misfortune.”

Mrs Rodor moreover, encouraged poultry farmers to enrol onto insurance policies if the current issue is addressed.