South Africa’s department of agriculture appears to have supplied a misleading response to a local newspaper, implying that the government compensates poultry farmers for chickens culled during bird flu outbreaks.
In fact, the department’s longstanding policy is that sick birds have “no value” and it is challenging last year’s High Court decision ordering it to apply market value when considering compensation.
None of this appears to have been explained when the Citizen newspaper approached the department for its response to a statement by the SA Poultry Association (SAPA) that farmers suffered because they were not paid any compensation.
A departmental media liaison officer told the newspaper that farmers could apply to the Director of Animal Health for compensation after birds were culled. She said the department was “unaware of a government policy prohibiting compensation”, the newspaper reported.
The result was a headline saying “Bird flu: Farmers can apply for compensation for animals destroyed”.
Yes, they can apply. But, in terms of current policy, the payment will be zero. That is why farmers are taking the government to court. Was that truth hidden from the newspaper and its readers?
