Stakeholders trained on disease prevention, detection and control in poultry industry

Stories by John Oba
With agencies

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development through the Department of Animal Production and Husbandry Services has commenced training of key stakeholders in the poultry industry to enhance disease prevention, detection and control.
Speaking at a workshop organised for stakeholders in the sector recently in Nasarawa State, the Director of the department, Dr Ademola Raji said this was necessary as attention was being paid to animal health globally.
Raji, who was represented by the Deputy Director in the department, Dr John Taiwo said the workshop, which was titled `Behaviour Change in Biosecurity in poultry Production’ was aimed at arming stakeholders with information on diseases prevention
He stated that such workshop was necessary following the recent outbreak of Avian Influenza in the country saying that proper knowledge and application of biosecurity would help curb the ugly situation.

“The workshop is objectives of developing an action plan in all aspects of disease detection, prevention and control.
“Explain appropriate biosecurity for poultry farms and live birds market in rural and urban areas.
“It would build capacity in technical, communication skills and advise poultry growers, sellers and live birds marketing administrators in developing a biosafety plan’’, he said.

Raji listed co-organisers of the workshop as Federal Department of Agricultural Extension Services, Nigerian Institute for Animal Science (NIAS) and Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN).

Speaking on the sidelines of the workshop, the Registrar, Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NAIS) Dr Oyedele Oyedeji said the workshop was important as it would address most challenges facing the sector.
He said it would have great impact on the standards used in crop and animal production saying that `products are as good as the process used in producing them’.
He said the participating stakeholders were required to train farmers and other actors along the poultry value chain in the various localities.

The registrar urged the Federal Department of Animal Production and Husbandry Services to convene a meeting of all stakeholders to review the livestock policy for Nigeria.
Oyedeji said it would give a proper direction to animal breeding and genetics, animal nutrition, marking, operating procedures and animal welfare which will be disseminate to states through the extension services.
He said this would enable the country meet all International bench marks in animal feed, product and human food safety.
The Zonal Secretary, North Central, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Mr Dennis Eze commended the department for organising the workshop.
He said it was timely as many poultry farmers have recorded huge losses in the recent outbreak of Avian Influenza saying that more of such training is needed.
Eze said identified diseases as the major challenge facing the sector urging the department to sensitise farmers also in the area of feed production.
The secretary urged poultry farmers not to loose hope inspite of various challenges saying that the Goodluck Jonathan administration was poultry friendly.