GOPENG:
Cattle herder K. Nagappan, 66, has never known a time when
he was not surrounded by animals.
Two weeks ago, he had 120 kampung chickens, 70 chicks, 38
ducks, four geese and four turkeys at his farm in Kampung
Changkat Tualang about 15km from here.
All the birds had to be destroyed after the Perak Veterinary
Research Department confirmed traces of the deadly H5N1
virus in free-range chickens there.
The pain of losing his birds, which he bred for his own
consumption and for sale, eased yesterday when Nagappan
received compensation of RM2,973.70. “I agreed to let them
go,” he said after accepting the payment
from state
Agriculture,
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Agro-based Industry and Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Mohd
Radzi Manan at nearby Kampung Redang Sawa.
“I knew it was the only way to save lives.
“Besides, I still have my cattle, goats and sheep,” said
Nagappan.
He was one of 80 villagers from Kampung Redang Sawa and Kampung
Changkat Tualang who received compensation amounting to
RM15,116.80 after fowl owned by them were culled.
Farmers from Kampung Changkat Legong, the latest village in the
area found with poultry infected with the bird flu virus, are
expected to receive compensation soon.
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Mohd Radzi told reporters that the Government had set
aside RM231,000 as compensation to those affected,
including the owners of commercial poultry farms.
“Payment would be given in the form of cheques to the
commercial farms because of the larger sums involved,”
he said.
Mohd Radzi advised villagers to take a break from
rearing poultry for the time being.
He said the state was seeking feedback from the
villagers before implementing guidelines on how they
could safely rear poultry in their backyards.
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