Chicken farmer Jabulani Richard Ngwenya is implementing strict bio-security measures to safeguard his farm from the deadly bird flu.
On Monday, the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries announced that a farm in Standerton had been quarantined and 25000 chickens would be killed.
The outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N8 has instilled a lot of fear in farmers and hawkers as it threatens to hit their pockets hard.
Ngwenya, owner of JR Ngwenya Poultry Farm in Charl Cilliers, north of Standerton, Mpumalanga, said: "I have to be strict to ensure that the farm stays clean. Bird flu spreads very fast. I have 206000 chickens here and if they were to die, I would lose millions.
"I am praying that the disease does not hit me. I was fearful when I heard that one farm in Standerton has been hit and thousands of chickens will be culled," Ngwenya said.
Outbreak and ban on sale will hit poor families hard
The outbreak of avian influenza has led to thousands of chickens being culled at two farms in Standerton and Villers in Free State.
The department announced a 14-day ban on sales of live chicken on Monday.
Ngwenya said he was worried whether the ban would affect his existing contracts or not.
"Thousands of chickens which now weigh 2kg have to be picked up by a customer in four days. I am worried and am wondering what if the chickens are not picked up?" he said.
When the Sowetan team visited the farm on Tuesday, staff members were quick to inform us that we were not allowed on the farm.
Ngwenya explained that to get into the farm, the team would have to bath and change into overalls and boots the farm would provide.
Ban on sale of live poultry will also affect street trade
"This is done to ensure that no one brings in an infection from outside. Staff and everyone who wants to come to the farm have to bath before and after leaving the farm," he said.
The farm has eight huge poultry houses. At the entrance of each house there is a container filled with water and a sanitising chemical.
Everyone venturing beyond that point had to dip in their feet. Even Ngwenya, who uses crutches, also had to dip in his feet and the sticks before entering the poultry house.
Vehicles were also sprayed with a sanitising chemical as they entered and left the farm.
"Anything that touches the ground has to be sanitised," Ngwenya said.
He has been a farmer since 2010 and said he had not experienced anything like this.
"This is scary. It is not something we come across everyday. If anything were to happen here, my family, employees and their families would suffer," said Ngwenya, adding that he had 26 permanent employees.
Experts said bird flu caused no imminent threat to humans.
Bird flu sends farmers into panic
Chicken farmer Jabulani Richard Ngwenya is implementing strict bio-security measures to safeguard his farm from the deadly bird flu.
On Monday, the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries announced that a farm in Standerton had been quarantined and 25000 chickens would be killed.
The outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N8 has instilled a lot of fear in farmers and hawkers as it threatens to hit their pockets hard.
Ngwenya, owner of JR Ngwenya Poultry Farm in Charl Cilliers, north of Standerton, Mpumalanga, said: "I have to be strict to ensure that the farm stays clean. Bird flu spreads very fast. I have 206000 chickens here and if they were to die, I would lose millions.
"I am praying that the disease does not hit me. I was fearful when I heard that one farm in Standerton has been hit and thousands of chickens will be culled," Ngwenya said.
Outbreak and ban on sale will hit poor families hard
The outbreak of avian influenza has led to thousands of chickens being culled at two farms in Standerton and Villers in Free State.
The department announced a 14-day ban on sales of live chicken on Monday.
Ngwenya said he was worried whether the ban would affect his existing contracts or not.
"Thousands of chickens which now weigh 2kg have to be picked up by a customer in four days. I am worried and am wondering what if the chickens are not picked up?" he said.
When the Sowetan team visited the farm on Tuesday, staff members were quick to inform us that we were not allowed on the farm.
Ngwenya explained that to get into the farm, the team would have to bath and change into overalls and boots the farm would provide.
Ban on sale of live poultry will also affect street trade
"This is done to ensure that no one brings in an infection from outside. Staff and everyone who wants to come to the farm have to bath before and after leaving the farm," he said.
The farm has eight huge poultry houses. At the entrance of each house there is a container filled with water and a sanitising chemical.
Everyone venturing beyond that point had to dip in their feet. Even Ngwenya, who uses crutches, also had to dip in his feet and the sticks before entering the poultry house.
Vehicles were also sprayed with a sanitising chemical as they entered and left the farm.
"Anything that touches the ground has to be sanitised," Ngwenya said.
He has been a farmer since 2010 and said he had not experienced anything like this.
"This is scary. It is not something we come across everyday. If anything were to happen here, my family, employees and their families would suffer," said Ngwenya, adding that he had 26 permanent employees.
Experts said bird flu caused no imminent threat to humans.
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