GLOBAL ALLIANCE TRAINS POULTRY FARMERS ON DISEASE MANAGEMENT

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to developing a modern, integrated and responsive poultry disease surveillance system to safeguard farmers, the food supply and the national economy.
The Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr. Anzaku Samuel, made this known in Abuja at the opening of a one-day training programme for 100 selected poultry farmers from across the country and the Federal Capital Territory.

Dr. Anzaku explained that the current administration has intensified farmer sensitisation efforts, having identified disease as the single greatest threat to the growth and sustainability of the poultry sector.
He stressed that effective disease surveillance has become essential to preventing outbreaks that negatively impact productivity, feed efficiency, egg production, trade confidence and consumer safety.
According to him, stronger collaboration between the government and the private sector is required to improve diagnostic turnaround time, enabling farmers to receive results promptly and make timely management decisions.
He also urged participants to standardise reporting channels to ensure smoother information flow, improve communication among veterinarians, laboratory diagnosticians and producers, and make disease surveillance more proactive rather than reactive.
Dr. Anzaku commended the Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicine for organising the training, noting that it would further strengthen Nigeria’s animal health system.
Earlier, the Country Manager of the Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Moses Arokoyo, said the training was designed to promote a diagnostic and preventive approach as a key strategy for disease control and improved profitability among poultry farmers.
He emphasised the need for stronger collaboration, noting that critical data resides with poultry farmers and is essential for the government to obtain accurate information on the sector’s development.
Dr. Arokoyo appealed to the Federal Government to ease import regulations and enhance the capacity of farmers in rural areas to boost productivity.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, Mr. Onalo Akpa, identified high production costs as a major challenge confronting poultry farmers. He called on the government to engage professionals in the livestock and crop sectors to strike a balance between raw material producers and livestock farmers, in order to curb rising production costs.
He added that the importation of raw materials is contributing significantly to increased production costs, with adverse effects on the economy.
The training provided a platform for poultry farmers nationwide and other livestock sector stakeholders to deliberate on challenges affecting poultry development in Nigeria.