Strategies to Upgrade Animal Health Delivery in Village Poultry Systems: Perspectives of Stakeholders From Northern Ghana and Central Zones in Tanzania

Abstract

Village chicken production holds much potential for the alleviation of malnutrition and poverty in rural communities in Africa. Owing to their subsistence nature, however, such systems are rife with infectious poultry diseases such as Newcastle disease (ND). Strategies common for the management of ND and other poultry diseases in intensive production systems, including vaccination and biosecurity measures, have seen limited success in the village production systems. New approaches are needed that can successfully deliver animal health inputs and services for the effective management of poultry health challenges in low-input systems. Our study utilized focus group discussions with men and women farmers as well as other poultry value chain actors such as input suppliers, live bird traders and processed poultry meat retailers, to investigate potential options for delivery of animal health care to village poultry systems in northern Ghana and central Tanzania. ND was commonly reported as a major disease constraint in the study sites of the two countries, with resulting fatalities particularly impactful on men and women producers and on traders. We therefore also conducted interviews that focused specifically on the gender component of village chicken production. The key health related challenges prioritized by women and men participants included limited access to, and poor quality of, vaccines and veterinary drugs, a shortage of veterinary officers, and insufficient knowledge and training of farmers on flock management practices. Women, more than men, emphasized the difficulties of accessing poultry health services. Our assessments suggest that for poultry health care delivery in the studied communities to be effective, there is need to improve the supply of good quality drugs and vaccines in rural areas, respond to the needs of both men and women, and recognize the different incentives for farmers, traders and other value chain actors. Community-based approaches and increased use of ICT technology such as mobile phones have much to offer in this regard.

Access to Veterinary Drugs in Sub-Saharan Africa: Roadblocks and Current Solutions

“…These studies describe the uses and misuses of drugs by farmers and animal health workers as a consequence of their knowledge and perceptions of diseases and drugs. They provide information on farmers' perceptions and self-assessment of veterinary drug-dispensing services [see for example Somda et al ( 34 ) for Gambia; Enahoro et al ( 33 ) for Ghana and Tanzania; Machila et al ( 35 , 37 ) and Higham et al ( 36 ) for Kenya; Moffo et al ( 8 ) for Cameroon; Soudre et al ( 38 ) for Burkina Faso]. Many of these studies highlight farmers' lack of knowledge, awareness, or compliance ( 39 , 40 ).…”

“…In studies on SSA specifically, more attention has been given to veterinary infrastructures, and their role in delivering services to low-income farmers in view of agricultural development (27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33). Some elements on access to drugs can be found indirectly in works focusing on specific animal health issues (e.g., bovine trypanosomiasis, tick-borne diseases, Newcastle disease, etc.)…”

Informal Institutional Barriers to Access and Utilisation of Newcastle Disease Vaccines among Women Smallholder Chicken Farmers in Makueni, Kenya

“…The outcome of such shameful thoughts and beliefs prevents many farmers to vaccinate their chicken against ND. Studies conducted by Enahoro et al (16) in Egypt and Mutua et al (35) in Kenya and Uganda reveal similar findings that the number of livestock, especially farmers owning one or two chickens and cows find it shameful to call a veterinary officer or buy vaccines.…”

“…Such rules and regulations are instituted into the systems to sustain the demand and supply of ND vaccines. Many governments champion for farmers to get quality and affordable ND vaccines by regulating prices and providing necessary support to farmers and distributors (16). As opined by Casson et al (17) rules, regulations, traditions and laws constitute humanly devised institutions.…”

Host response to successive challenges with lentogenic and velogenic Newcastle disease virus in local chickens of Ghana

“…Their productivity is, however, very low and hampered by poor husbandry practices, predation, and disease, particularly Newcastle disease ( ND ). In Ghana, ND is the primary cause of death, affecting 80% of local chickens annually and can cause up to 100% mortality in unvaccinated flocks ( Aboe et al, 2006 ; Awuni, 2006 ; Enahoro et al 2021 ).…”