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The province-wide outbreak of Avian Flu has taken its toll on commercial and emerging farmers, who to date received no assistance from national government to assist in mitigating the effects this has had on their businesses.

Since the outbreak of the virus, over 2138 poultry have died while 427 277 birds have been killed to stem the spread of the virus.

Hardest hit has been emerging broiler farmers who collectively have had to destroy 870 349 eggs, preventing them from selling day-old chicks that have been placed on order by commercial farmers.

On one farm alone, 40 people have already been retrenched due to the impact of the outbreak.

GDARD has requested that National Treasury assist with business rescue packages for farmers who have had to preventatively cull healthy birds.

GDARD has still had no response from Treasury.

While Treasury and GDARD drag their heels, farmers around the province continue to wait in limbo, not knowing whether they will be able to salvage their businesses.

It is evident that this ANC-led administration does not have the interests of those whom it is meant to serve at heart.

GDARD MEC, Lebogang Maile must, as a matter of urgency, insist that Treasury speed up the process of formulating the business rescue packages for the affected farmers.

The DA in Gauteng has taken this matter up with the Agriculture Portfolio Committee in Parliament to ensure that affected farmers receive assistance timeously before any more jobs in this sector are lost.

Issued by DA