By Ayo Fadimu
There is growing fear among the poultry farmers in the country as the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), an agency in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported outbreak of Avian Influenza (Birdflu) in the country.
According to a statement signed by the Director, Chief Veterinary Officer, Veterinary and Pest Control Services of the ministry, Dr Olaniran Alabi, the outbreak occurred in two backyard farms of multiple species including, ostriches, geese, turkeys, layers and peacocks in Kano, Kano State.
“However, within a spate of one week, the outbreak has been confirmed in other parts of the state as well as Plateau State, thus indicating that the disease is fast spreading to other states,” the statement read.
It would be recalled that during the outbreak of the disease in the country, in 2006 and its resurgence 2015, about 4.7 million poultry chicken was affected with over $9 billion paid in compensation
This is particularly worrisome in a sub sector the Central Bank of Nigeria described as the most commercialised of all Nigeria’s agricultural sub-sectors with a current net worth of N1.6 trillion.
According to the governor of the apex bank, Godwin Emefiele, at a meeting with vice-chancellors of universities on the University-Based Poultry Revival Programme in Abuja, the population of chickens in Nigeria is about N165 million, which produce approximately 650,000 metric tonnes and 300,00MT of eggs and meat altogether.
While reiterating the need for all to be at alert in view of the serious socioeconomic impact on the livelihood of the farmers and adverse effect on the poultry value chain, Alabi announced that the government has ordered enforcement of movement control of poultry and poultry products from affected states to non-affected states, sensitization of farmers on how to tackle the spread as well as treatment of the affected birds.