Abstract

Avian influenza devastated the poultry industry and economy of Plateau State during the 2006 epidemic. A survey was conducted among some targeted stakeholders in the poultry industry in Jos north and Jos south local government areas of Plateau state using structured questionnaire to assess the impact of 2006 highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak on their businesses. A total of 84 questionnaires were administered among the stake holders in the poultry industry out of which 76 (90.5%) were returned and analyzed. The 76 stakeholders that returned their questionnaires included 8 (10.5%) veterinary drug sellers, 6 (7.9%) toll millers, 10 (13.2%) commercial feeds distributors, 8 (10.5%) feed raw material and 12(15.8%) poultry equipment sellers, 15 (19.7%) fowl and 17 (22.4%) egg sellers. There was a sharp decline to complete loss of income by egg and bird traders and more than 50% decline in the sale of poultry drugs and vaccines, toll milled and commercial feeds, poultry raw materials and equipment. The epidemic had a significant negative impact (loss) on toll millers (70%) and commercial feed distributors (74%), fowl (60%) and egg sellers (35%); poultry drug (50%), feed raw material (50%) and poultry equipment sellers (55%) and was more severe on commercial feed distributors. Poultry input providers should also be compensated as was done poultry farmers to minimize the effect of their losses.

Keywords:

Avian influenza, impact, poultry industry, stakeholders, sellers,

References

Competing interests

The authors have no competing interests.

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The authors have no competing interests.