Poultry farmers hail FG for sensitization

In the euphoria of the great loss many farmers recorded early this year in poultry business, stakeholders in the industry have commended the effort of the Federal Government in creating more awareness forum for the use of bio security means of curbing the occurrence of avian influenza in the country.

 

In less than a decade, farmers in the poultry sector have recorded two devastating impacts of avian influenza as million of birds and naira had been lost in the process with the outbreak of the disease  in 2007 from Sanbawa farm in Kaduna state was the first within this period following a recently recorded one, early this year.

This bird flu occurrence as a way of curbing its spread has necessitated the department of Animal production and Husbandary Services, FMARD in partnership with other major stakeholders at Nasarawa state to organize a forum for using bio security measures to combat this menace away from the agricultural economy across the country. behavirol change sensitization Stakeholders in the poultry industry, including the Nassarwa state poultry farmers came out in their mass to appreciate the federal Department of animal production and husbandry service of the Federal Ministry of agriculture and rural development on its recently held sensitization and behavioral change workshop at the ramat hotel, Nassarawa state, which focused on the sensitization and behavioral change on the bio-security in poultry production, in collaboration with the  Nigerian Institute of Animal science (NIAS), Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Federal department of Agriculture Extension services and the Federal department of Veterinary Services, were all present to grace the occasion.

Dr. Ademola Raji, the Director, Department Animal Production and Husbandry services, who was represented by a deputy Director, Dr. John Taiwo said the sensitization, behavioral change and training workshop is of a huge significance to the poultry industry and the general livestock subsector, and it is first of its kind since the creation of the Department Animal Production and Husbandry services. The deputy director further said that the training is timely as a global attention is being paid to animal health, especially with the recent outbreak of avian influenza in the country. According to him the proper knowledge and application of the Bio-security measures will help to curb the outbreak of the disease.

The objective of the workshop is to identify and strengthen the communication strategies, on farm Bio-security practices and creation of public awareness for all stakeholders in the poultry industry, develop an action plan in all aspect of disease detection, prevention and control, to build capacity in technical, communication skill and development of bio-security for poultry farms, live bird markets in rural and urban areas. 

The Registrar of the Nigerian Institute of Animal science (NIAS), Dr. Oyedele Oyedeji, said the forum has a great impact on the standards used in crops and animals production, where the products will appear as good as the process used in processing them and the workshop will help to address challenges facing the industry. He also urged the department to convene a meeting of all stakeholders to review the livestock policy for Nigeria, which will give propel direction for animal breeding and genetics, animal nutrition marketing, operating procedures and animal welfare which would be disseminated to states through extension services. He stressed that this process will enable the country meet all international benchmarks in animal feed, product and human food safety.

Food Farm News, spoke with Sunny silve of the sunny farms, lafia, Nassarawa state and Imin Abner Genka of the Nzinga farms doma, Nassarawa state, who expressed their appreciation to the federal government on the training saying that the sensitization workshop had huge impacts on them and hope that they will get more of the work shop, as they also urged their state government and others to encourage the poultry farmers through more sensitization and training workshops.

The Zonal Secretary North Central poultry association of Nigeria, Mr. Dennis Eze,  said as the  Zonal Secretary North Central poultry association of Nigeria (PAN), he is happy with the proactive response of the federal government which has brought hope to lots of poultry farmers with the believe that soon, Avian Influenza will be eradicated from the country. He said he optimistic with lots of sensitization on going, and with the consciousness shown by most farmers, the virus won’t last long. He further urged the federal government to keep on with the sensitization programme, and also advised farmers to listen and abide by the bio-security, bio-exclusion, and bio- containment measures.