‘Let your research findings translate into food sufficiency’

By Seye Adeniyi

From left, Dr Akintunde of CHI Farm Ltd,
Mr Gbenga James, MD/CEO, Avian Speciality Ltd;
Dr Musa Alasa, MD, Adamo Farms; Mr Olumide
Origunloye, MD, Farm Support Services Ltd;
Dr Adedamola Soremekun, Director of Veterinary
Services, Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture and
representative of the Commissioner for
Agriculture, Ogun State; Dr. Stephen Ochoje..

AGRICULTURAL experts in the country have been tasked to make sure that their various research findings as well as their works translate into foods on the tables of Nigerians, rather than making recommendations and suggestions that will not positively affect the lives of average Nigerians.

The chairman, House of Representative Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Gbenga Makanjuola stated this in Ibadan recently. According to the legislator, no matter the level of research work, if it does not affect the lives of an average Nigerian and reduce hunger which is one major problem today, then it would make no meaning.

Research no doubt is very critical and important for national development and agricultural researches are also needed to tackle food shortage, and to make the country food sufficient and secure. But our researchers must note that their works should be able to guarantee development, must not be too ambigious and should be able to provide foods on the table of Nigerians. This means, it should be home driven and the recommendations should concentrate on our immediate problems for speedy agricultural development.

Hon. Makanjuola said there is need for research institutes in the country to priorities the country’s agricultural problems and projects and tackle them accordingly. He said, there is need for Nigeria to ensure and assure food supplies and adequate food consumption on a sustainable basis which is both critical and imperative for national self-esteem, security, development and socio- political stability.

Hon. Andrew Uchendu, the vice-chairman House Committee on Agriculture was also of the opinion that food security and sufficiency can only be achieved when ordinary farmers understand the solution and recommendations proffered by scientific recommendations. He said many agricultural research results cannot even be interpreted or understood by many farmers.

“Farmers are the end-users of any research work or finding, so of what benefit is any project/research which farmers cannot understand, adopt and use to produce more foods. Of what importance is any research work which farmers cannot benefit from. So our researchers must market their research results”, he advised.

Furthermore, an agricultural expert and a don at the University of Ibadan, Prof. Malachy Akoroda, have also lend his voice on the need for researchers in the country to carry farmers along in their work and make sure that they benefit from their wisdom.

Prof. Akoroda, while speaking recently during a programme organised recently by the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) Ibadan, Oyo state, the don tasked researchers to ensure that people at all times have physical and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food to meet dietary and food preferences for an active healthy life.

Emphasizing on the need for researchers to refocus agricultural research for effectiveness and relevance, the don said “researchers must know that it is desirable to have a cap, but it is also essential to have a head. For instance, any research work must guarantee food supply and sufficiency. The projects must have the aim of solving the problems of farmers and guarantee better life for them. Research papers must have positive impacts on the lives of Nigerians. If this cannot be achieved, then, I don’t see any reason for doing such research”, he stated.

Also, a consultant and agricultural extension expert, Dr. Tunji Arokoyo, have also advocated for effective extension delivery and food security research, saying Nigeria has no reason to be regarded or called a low income food-deficit country in Africa.

He said it is an irony indeed that Nigeria, a vast agricultural country endowed with substantial natural resources would still find itself in the group of low-income food deficit countries (LIFDC) in Africa despite the vast human and natural resources and many research institutes.

Surveillance, best weapon to combat emerging poultry diseases

By Sade Oguntola

A Virologist and Livestock Consultant from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Gizza, Egypt, Prof. Hussein Aly Hussein has said that the best weapon to combat emerging and re emerging poultry diseases, including Pnuemovirus infection, Infectious bronchitis, Avian influenza and Bursal disease, remains ensuring good surveillance.

Speaking on the theme “Modern Trends in Animal Diseases Managements, The Use of PCR for Rapid Diagnosis of Poultry Diseases” at the commissioning of a PCR facility at the Animal Care Premises in Ogere Remo, he said that such an ongoing systematic and continuous collection, analysis and interpretation of health data that is designed to detect the appearance of specific diseases will go a long way to ensure that the farmer smiles to the bank at the end of the day.

He declared that such monitoring and screening will allow the farmer to be able to follow in time and space the health status of his birds and some of the risk factors associated with diseases in his birds and so adequately plan for any disease.

“When there is proper monitoring and screening, it will help to take correct actions before any disease outbreak and loss in production, create good sense of security and ascertain the effectiveness of flock vaccination programme, It will also help access hygiene measurements.

“Since monitoring and screening can help correct actions and mistakes, improve, optimize and maintain efficiency of vaccination programme as well as diagnose of vaccination failure, it will justify the investments on vaccination.

Much as there has been an intensification in poultry production on regional basis because today’s bird is more productive, he said these new breed of birds are however not capable of fighting infections.

Also, the fact that many agents affecting growth and or immune functions are now being discovered to interact under field conditions without any sign that these factors will change, he said this means farmers should be more mindful of and practice strict biosecurity programme and preventive procedures.

For any biosecurity programme and preventive procedures to be effective, he stated that it has to be scientific in principle, practical and easy to implement and understand, enforceable and inexpensive.

This, he assured will help break the chain of infection either at the portal of entry, reservoir, transmission or other stages.

He suggested that routine Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of the flock with or without any disease outbreak.

PCR in the industry comes useful for identifying disease, diagnosing genetic disorders and so on. It is accurate, reliable, specific rapid and cost effective.

While Prof. Hussein described emerging zoonotic diseases such as avian influenza as having the potential to devastate the global human population, he said, they should no more be a nightmare for farmers because there are modern and rapid diagnostic facilities such as PCR now in animal disease management.

“For every flock, there is always the individual factors that comes in the form of type of management, nutrition, vaccination and the proper development of the immune system which can be affected by both viral and non viral agents such as stress, bacteria, nutrition and mycotoxins.

“But, analysis of farm situation, performance results in previous flocks and incidence of diseases can help recognize signs of such immuno-suppression that may include uneven flock growth, increased death rate and decreased body weight.

“ So, we have to choose between monitoring system and screening the flock for indicators of the problem and losing the flock to diseases. For farmers that will like the “wait and see policy”, the disadvantages and poor performance at the end can cost a lot because they would have had a false sense of security.

He assured that monitoring the current viral load of avian influenza strains in wild and farmed poultry so that appropriate action can be taken before the unset of the next potential epidemic strike, the World Health Organisation (WHO) even accepted as possible through PCR-based tests.

Dr. Olatunde Agbato, President, Animal care Services Konsult Nig. Ltd, speaking at the occasion, said Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) facility is a new addition to the company’s array of state of the art diagnostic and research back-up facilities for industry practitioners.

The laboratory which has been providing comprehensive disease diagnosis, control, Livestock management and feed / water analysis service, for both the poultry and aquaculture industry throughout the country, he said many investors in livestock business nationwide have testified to help save their investments at critical moments.

“With the PCR facilities, we can now provide the most modern tools for rapid and accurate disease diagnosis, and DNA profiling for both animals and humans, which is also very useful for research purposes.

Dr. Agbato said, “With these provisions, it is our belief that our industry can rise above the challenges that stare us in the face; be they disease or quality concerns. All it takes is for all of us to embrace laboratory diagnosis and quality control as standard and routine practice. In doing so, we shall be fulfilling a social responsibility while at the same time preserving ourselves in business.”