Avian Influenza – Sokoto State, Veterinary Institute Sensitizes Poultry Farmers, Stakeholders

 Ismail Umar, Sokoto

Sokoto State Government in collaboration with National Veterinary Research Institute has organised a one day sensitization training for poultry farmers and various Stakeholders in the sector on the avian influenza outbreak in the country.

Declaring the workshop opened, the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, described the Sensitization and choice of the theme as timely.

Governor Tambuwal who was represented by Secretary to the State government, Sai’du Umar, said poultry production was recognized globally to meet the demand of teeming population.

According to him, considering the importance of the sector Tambuwal’s administration had established Poultry Development Agency in 2017 to facilitate more development in the sector.

He added that the State government had also approved the establishment of 15 farm centres across various schools to promote enterprenurship in the state.

” Governor Tambuwal has carefully approved establishment of over fifteen farms in different schools in the state to prepare students from secondary School level to learn livestock production as a profession, and diversify the economy for sustainable development,” he said.

In his remarks, the Commissioner Ministry for Animal Health and Fisheries Development, Professor Abdulkadir Junaid, commended the agency for organizing the Sensitization on time.

Professor Junaidu said the sokoto state received a report from federal government to take proactive measures to curtail outbreak.

He said although no case was reported in sokoto, but other reports received from neighbouring states, necessitated the steps taken by government.

” Twenty-seven states and 85 local government areas are already affected across the country and 382 outbreaks leading to the destruction of 1.8 million birds.

” And bird flu is a disease of public health importance with serious economic implications,” Professor Junaidu said.

The Commissioner urged the poultry farmers owners to register with statutory government agency to benefits from possible government interventions.

He also called on poultry farmers to subsidized the price of their products to customer especially during the upcoming Ramadan fasting.

Earlier in his remarks, the Special Adviser on Sokoto State Poultry Development Agency, Professor Bello Alkali, said the workshop was organised by his agency in collaboration with National Veterinary Research Institute to sensitizes farmers and all those that have to do with poulyand other value chain in the industry.

” Recently, there is an outbreak of highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in about 27 states of the federation including our immediate neighbors of Kebbi and Zamfara.

” In view of this that the State government in collaboration with the institute to sensitizes poultry owners on how to take preventive measures,” Professor Alkali noted.

The Special Adviser applauded Governor Tambuwal towards his efforts in supporting and boosting poultry activities in the State.

The theme of the Sensitization was Avian Influenza Pandemic: Biosecurity and Biosafety in Commercial and Backyard Poultry Farms.