Poultry farmer hires lawyer after mass chicken deaths and disputes LVV valuation

The entrepreneur says he is suffering considerable financial losses due to the closure of his business and disputes the valuation of his chicken coop. Meanwhile, he says he is still awaiting definitive test results that must determine whether bird flu was indeed the cause of the deaths of approximately 3,500 chickens.

In an interview with Radio ABC, Ramdjan expressed his dissatisfaction with the way the authorities handled the matter. According to him, his poultry farm has now been closed for weeks, while uncertainty remains over the precise cause of the deaths.

The entrepreneur also disagrees with the valuation of his chicken coop. According to him, the structure was appraised at approximately SRD 780,000, while he says he invested more than SRD 1.3 million. To protect his interests, he has now retained a lawyer.

Entrepreneur questions bird flu conclusion

Ramdjan questions the assumption that bird flu is responsible for the mass chicken deaths. He suspects that old or possibly contaminated sawdust played a role. According to the poultry farmer, the batch in question started on August 10. During the first weeks, everything proceeded normally, until about four weeks later the number of deaths suddenly increased.

While initially only a few chickens died each day, that number rose to more than one hundred per day. On certain days, according to Ramdjan, as many as 200 to 300 dead chickens were found. The entrepreneur says the problems arose shortly after an old batch of sawdust was placed in the last chicken coop. He therefore does not rule out that the material used played a role in the deaths.

Ramdjan acknowledges, however, that he has no test results confirming this suspicion. He therefore believes that all possible causes should be carefully investigated before definitive conclusions are drawn.

Uncertainty over test results

Following the sudden increase in chicken deaths, Ramdjan called in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVV). According to him, approximately 3,500 chickens died and the authorities also had additional animals culled.

The poultry farmer states that samples for additional testing abroad are on a waiting list. He says he has not yet received clarity on the final results of that investigation. As long as the results are unavailable, he considers it premature to identify bird flu as the definitive cause of death.

The continuing uncertainty has major consequences for his operations, according to him. Due to the closure, he cannot continue his regular production, while financial obligations continue.

Legal action over damages

By retaining a lawyer, Ramdjan wants to obtain clarity on the handling of the matter and safeguard his financial interests. In addition to the direct damage caused by the dead and culled chickens, he is concerned about the consequences of the prolonged business closure and the disputed valuation of his chicken coop.

The entrepreneur says he is awaiting the additional investigation. Should it ultimately be established that bird flu was indeed the cause, he also wants to know how the virus could have reached his business. For now, according to Ramdjan, important questions remain unanswered about the cause of the chicken deaths, the handling by the authorities and the financial consequences for his business.