Create a Breeding Center for Native Poultry

Jakarta, Kompas - The poultry farm restructure program in sector 4 as result of the vaccination budget reallocation should be put towards developing a breeding center for native poultry. This is because sector 4 farms are directly related to native poultry. Chairman of the Indonesian Farmer Association for Native Poultry (Himpuli), Ade M Zulkarnain, on Wednesday (14/1) in Sukabumi, West Java, had given the above statement. Meanwhile, the government is constantly reminded to plan well before implementing the restructure program.

By adopting modern farming methods in accordance with good farming practices (GFP), avian influenza control efforts will be easier. It is different from the current condition where sector 4 farms are not managed well, birds are let loose and biosecurity is difficult to implement.
On the other hand, modern farming methods are difficult to implement in sector 4 farms because of the flock size, awareness, and farming capacity.
By forming groups, the goal to establish a poultry breeding center with modern systems and GFP could be achieved. But for that the government must also support the development of the center which is expensive.
“We are facing difficulties in collecting breeds and there has not been any concrete effort from the Ministry of Agriculture (Breeding Directorate) to realize it,” Ade said. The establishment of a breeding center for local poultry could encourage rural economy growth.
The advantages of local poultry breeding are it has a stable price and the market segment is middle to upper class, therefore the profit gained could be greater.
“We aim to increase local poultry contribution to the national poultry market to 10 percent in 2010,” he said.
Good planning
General Chairman of the Indonesian Poultry Society Forum (FMPI), Don Utoyo, said the restructure program could not be implemented hastily, it should be well-planned.
“Everyone should be talked to. Everybody who has chickens must be mapped. Chicken is not evenly distributed in Indonesia, it changes each month following the market flow,” said Don Utoyo.
Without good planning, the restructure program for sector 4 farms will not succeed.
Examples from other countries
Meanwhile, Indonesia needs to learn from the success of avian influenza mitigation in several neighboring countries where there are cases of virus infection in poultry and human. One country considered to be successful in controlling the deadly disease is Thailand.
Researcher from the Tropical Disease Diagnostic Center (TDDC) of Airlangga University, CA Nidom, DVM, when contacted from Jakarta yesterday, said that currently Thailand has managed to control avian influenza and as result no case has been found for the last few months.
When the first avian influenza case emerged in 2003, the Thailand government had acted quickly by culling poultry in that country. That measure was then followed by the establishment of cross-sector taskforces from central until regional level. “So there is commitment among departments, regional government, and the public,” said Nidom.
The Thailand Government Research and Development Institute had also collaborated with Osaka University to conduct intensive studies and map avian influenza virus distribution in that country. “Currently Thailand is concerned with migratory birds acting as avian influenza virus carriers,” he said. (mas/evy)
Source : Kompas