Farmers demand insurance for bird flu

Farmers demand insurance for bird flu

YOGYAKARTA: Poultry farmers across the country grouped under
the Association of Fowl Breeders demanded on Saturday the
government pay them between Rp 25 million (US$2,941) and Rp 100
million if they were to become infected with bird flu.

The farmers said this insurance scheme would help give them a
feeling of safety as they went about their work breeding
chickens.

During a one-day conference titled Solutions for Avian
Influenza, the government was also urged to launch a public
campaign to convince people about the safety of eating poultry.

The farmers also demanded the government provide them proper
vaccines and allocate money to research bird flu.

In a statement, they urged all poultry farmers to apply
biosecurity measures to prevent their chickens from becoming
infected with bird flu.

The farmers also urged the public not to be afraid of eating
poultry. They said cooking chicken properly killed the bird flu
virus. -- JP.