Davao City (2 December 2005) -- An aggressive campaign against Avian Flu virus contamination must also be focused on backyard poultry growers as this comprises a big percentage of the industry in the Davao region.
Dr. Jean Bacayo, chief of veterinary and
quarantine division of the Department of Agriculture in the Davao region admitted the difficulty of reaching out to backyard poultry raisers as they are fragmented.
He said of the estimated 150 million poultry heads in Southern Mindanao some 105 million or 70 percent are from backyard poultry raisers.
Bacayo said there is really a need for coordination among barangay officials because they are more knowledgeable of their respective communities if only to reach these sectors in terms of monitoring and advocacy.
"It is important that these sectors be given
proper education with regards protection against Avian Flu virus so as not to endanger the poultry industry," he said.
Bacayo said the market is good and the poultry raisers have the advantage after other areas in the region were stricken with the Avian flu virus.
He said this is one of the reasons why the monitoring has to be strengthened.
"Although importation of poultry product is still open to countries not affected by the Avian Flu like US and the European countries, many are already barred from importing", he said.
Among the countries affected because of the contamination of the virus are Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, China, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and Netherlands.
"Good with Japan because they were able to stamp out the virus immediately because of they have the financial capability," he said. He said that without the necessary fund to combat the virus , it would be very difficult even as he said that the Philippine government is mulling some budgetary allocation to address the problem and to put in place preventive measures.
"We have to tighten our guards para di makarating sa mga chicken ng Pilipinas because this is deadly and once infected it will be a big loss to the industry," he said.
He said the moment it reaches the country , there is the danger that the entire poultry will be infected if not eliminated right away because transmission of the virus is fast.
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