FAO utilizes Farmer Field School approach in combating antimicrobial resistance for the poultry farms in Ethiopia
20 June 2024 - Bishoftu, Ethiopia - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) - Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) Ethiopia recently conducted a comprehensive training programme for government animal health officers and poultry producers.
The training, which took place from 28 May to 6 June 2024 in Bishoftu Town, aimed to equip participants with the necessary skills to prevent poultry diseases using the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach. This initiative was made possible with the support of the UK Flemming Fund and aimed to establish and implement Broiler FFS in five field sites.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a complex issue influenced by various practices and involving multiple stakeholders. To effectively tackle this problem, it is crucial to employ comprehensive intervention approaches. The FFS approach provides a methodology that addresses the diverse on-farm and off-farm factors contributing to the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance in agricultural systems.
FAO-ECTAD Ethiopia, supported by the UK government Flemming Fund grant, is taking proactive steps to prevent the incidence and spread of diseases in poultry farms and combat AMR in the poultry farms. By establishing and implementing broiler FFS in selected field sites across Ethiopia, this holistic approach incorporates the fundamental principles of biosecurity, AMR prevention, and reduced antimicrobial usage.
Prior to the implementation of the broiler FFS, a facilitators' training was conducted for selected animal health officers from government offices and poultry producers representing each planned FFS site. This capacity development training, held in two phases from 12 to 23 March and 28 May to 6 June 2024, covered the basic approaches of FFS and touched upon technical aspects of poultry production. The participatory training supported by field visit and visualization techniques. Following the first phase, participants returned to their working areas and established FFS groups, applying the knowledge and skills they acquired during the classroom sessions. The Animal Health Institute (AHI), Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), and FAO collaborated in piloting the broiler FFS.
Dr Wubishet Zewde, Lead Executive for Animal Health and Veterinary Public Health, MoA, officially launched the event. “Ethiopian government's commitment to support the poultry sector through initiatives such as "Yelemat Tirufat," Wubishet emphasized in his remarks.
However, he noted that limited interventions have been implemented to encourage farmers and veterinary personnel to prioritize disease prevention on poultry farms and use antimicrobials more judiciously. He added that the pilot project provides significant scaling opportunities, and the Ministry is fully dedicated to delivering this timely initiative in synergy with FAO.
Dr Gizat Almaw, the Lead Executive Officer of Microbiology at the Animal Health Institute, highlighted the milestone nature of the pilot initiative. He underscored that the traditional small-scale production system in the country is not only subsistence-oriented, marked by low productivity, but also susceptible to disease risks that could potentially impact humans.
As Ethiopia prepares to pilot the broiler FFS, 25 to 30 voluntary producers have been identified as FFS members. Additionally, one host farmer from each FFS site was selected to co-learn about healthy poultry production and improve production and productivity. As part of the benchmark on the Broiler FFS, a baseline assessment was conducted using the Kobo tool.
This assessment aimed to evaluate the farm background, biosecurity implementation status, AMR, antimicrobial use (AMU), and collect basic farm economics data. The comprehensive approach is designed to prevent or reduce major poultry diseases that significantly impact the economy and public health. By doing so, it aims to decrease the reliance on antimicrobials and improve overall productivity in the poultry sector.
One of the trainees, a poultry farmer, highlighted the relevance of the diverse range of essential topics covered during the training. From good management practices to biosecurity measures tailored for small and medium-scale broiler chicken production, she expressed her newfound awareness of the crucial role that biosecurity plays in poultry farming. Despite attending various short trainings in the past, none had left as lasting an impression as the one facilitated by FAO, AHI, and MoA.
The training was conducted by master trainers from FAO, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and private consultants with extensive experience in facilitating similar events. The ten government facilitators and ten poultry farmers successfully completed their training and graduated as competent facilitators of the pilot FFS initiative, which aims to combat AMR in the broiler value chain.
For further information, please contact:
Meseret Abiy
National Communications Specialist
FAO Ethiopia
Email: [email protected]
Emmanuel Kihaule
International Communications Specialist
FAO Ethiopia
Email: [email protected]
Kuastros Belaynehe
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Expert
FAO Ethiopia
Email: [email protected]