The majority of the Dutch provinces do not make a budget available to support poultry farmers affected by fipronil. Inquiries with the provinces show that Gelderland is the only province to make money available.
That money is not made available to directly help the poultry farmer, but to conduct research into combating red mite. This is to avoid similar problems in the future.
However, the province still has ambitious plans. "We actually want to go one step further. For example, we want money to be made available for advice and coaching by the municipalities to the affected poultry farmers," said Dirk Vreugdenhil, Member of Parliament of the ChristenUnie in Gelderland.
The amount that Gelderland will invest is still unknown, as is where the money will come from.
Little support from other provinces
The province of Overijssel has received a request from LTO to set up a national fund. However, they rejected that request, reports Harry te Walvaart of the province of Overijssel.
The 3 northern provinces: Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe have themselves made a request to the government. Together they have drawn up a letter in which they request the central government to set up a national fund. That is what Anita Havinga of the province of Groningen says.
The province of Utrecht is also not making any money available. They consider this primarily a task for the State. The province of Noord-Brabant places the responsibility with the sector itself.
The State does not support either
All in all, it can therefore be concluded that poultry farmers should not expect support from the provinces. Previously also gave the state already to the poultry farmers not to support with financial measures. The State indicated that the fipronil scandal falls under a business risk.
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