The extermination of 1 300 ostriches, that have been raised as part of an Eastern Cape black economic empowerment farming venture, started on Thursday after the birds tested positive for bird flu.
All the birds are in Salem, near Grahamstown.
”The consequential loss of this will run up to R350 000 over the next three months and will mean the retrenchment of 15 people, on whom another 45 people are dependent,” said Salem Agri-Business managing director Martin Fick.
Fick said his company has also been assisting small-scale farmers in the Peddie, Ndlambe and Fish River Valley areas.
”We focus on training for the farmers, exposing them to competitive markets and price inputs.
”This project has been done with 13 farmers and we hoped with the approval of the department of Agriculture to enlist a further 15 farmers. We assist unskilled farmers to make commercial contributions to the economy.”
Fick said the extermination was taking place despite the fact that no sick birds have been identified.
”The animal health directorate of the Department of Agriculture has however found antibodies in the blood of the birds which were tested.”
The department’s head of the animal health directorate, Dr Johan van Wyk, said the Act only allows for compensation when animals that suffer from controlled diseases have to be exterminated.
”The Act does not allow for compensation in the case of consequential losses. Our only role is to prevent animal diseases.
People who have suffered consequential losses need to look at other sources for compensation.”
Fick said his company had appealed to the government to consider claims for damages. He said as a result of the exterminations there were further consequential losses which might affect the industry.
”The Grahamstown abattoir, which is registered as an ostrich exporting source, now faces closure. And the same fate awaits the skin and meat processing plants.”
Fick said this would affect the future of hundreds of skilled workers and export earnings.
”Unless some assistance is given the industry faces a collapse.” – Sapa