About 100 farmers from Nyeri County have graduated from an inaugural programme that is geared towards the promotion of drug-free broiler production to curb Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
The eleven-month training was spearheaded by the County Directorate of Veterinary Services and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
It was conducted through the Farmers Field School model, where the farmers were introduced to an alternative broiler rearing system that does not rely on the conventional use of antibiotics on their brood.
According to the County Director of Veterinary Services, Dr Anthony Muguro, the overall goal of the programme is to transform the livestock production system by encouraging farmers to adopt alternative and safe food production methods.
“The purpose of this Farmers Field School was actually to teach them or to extend the knowledge on how they can rear the broiler chicken in an alternative system.
Instead of using drugs, they have been using biosecurity measures which stop the spread or the introduction of diseases to these poultry and in so doing, we end up with broilers that do not have drug residues and this way, we can avert the issue of AMR,” stated Dr Muguro.
He noted that conventional broiler farming largely depends on the intensive use of antimicrobials for disease control.
The County Vet explained that many of the drugs used contain the same molecules as the ones used in human medicine.
He cautioned that if misused or overused in the food production systems, drug residues may find their way into the human body through animal products such as meat, eggs and milk fueling AMR which he termed as a silent pandemic.
“Currently broiler farming extensively uses drugs and poses an Antimicrobial Resistance problem in the society. We say AMR is a silent pandemic to the society because it will eventually lead to a situation where treatment of diseases both in humans and in animals will be very expensive, the reason being the drugs that are currently being used will not be effective and coming up with new drugs for treating diseases is a long and expensive process,” he said.
Dr Muguro noted that the initiative, which aims to eradicate drug-dependent farming, will be cascaded to other food value chains, including dairy and pig farming in the county.
He said that part of the overall goal is to use the trained farmers as ambassadors and trainers of other farmers on the importance of adopting biosecurity measures in the food production system.
“They are expected to extend the same knowledge to others so that we can roll out the same extension services and eventually we shall have more people practising the same, ending up with quality and safe meat for human consumption,” he said.
Ms Julia Ndirangu, who is one of the beneficiaries of the training, termed the experience as a game changer and one that has revolutionised the way she used to rear poultry.
She says prior to joining the Broiler Farmers Field School, she used to stock her fowls unschooled in any husbandry skills, a move that cost her dearly due to frequent disease outbreaks.
However, the situation is now different after having successfully undergone the training, where she has learnt the best animal practices, especially improved hygiene of the birds, which in the process assures the health safety of their meat.
“I used to rear my poultry devoid of proper animal husbandry practices such as correctly observing cleanliness and proper disease control measures. Consequently, this led to the spread of diseases, leading to the death of many of my chickens. But after having undergone this training, I can confidently say my birds live and feed in a clean environment and feed on the right feeds to enhance healthy growth. In addition, I have also learnt to prepare alternative forms of treatment for the broilers, such as the use of garlic, which is relatively safe for both chicken and customers who will consume them,” she narrates.
James Kimani, the county focal officer for the National Antimicrobial Stewardship Inter-Agency Committee, noted that the training had come at a time when the country was grappling with the challenge of antimicrobial residues in the food being consumed by Kenyans.
He noted that most counties still lack facilities and the capacity to carry out routine tests on food produce for drug residue, leaving consumers at risk of consuming antimicrobial residues.
While lauding the county government for enlightening the farmers on alternative food production techniques, Kimani expressed optimism that farmers will be safer when using drugs and promoting public health.
“Once our farmers become prudent while using microbes, they understand the consequences and they also know what they are supposed to do. In the end we are going to have not only quality food on our shelves but also a situation where the known microorganisms are combated and we are not going to have a silent pandemic,” said Kimani.
By Wangari Mwangi and Samuel Maina
