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Egypt educates family farms to fight bird flu
Since the outbreak of the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain
in Egypt, all authorities concerned have been puzzling their minds to find a
cure or at least to stop the spread of the disease.
Last week the Egyptian government announced that a new plan has been launched
aimed at creating giant poultry coops inside the rural homes of 16 villages all
over the country to produce birds protected against the bird flu
virus.
The two-phase plan aims at breeding 343 million birds annually for
at least two years. During the first year of the plan, 360 families will benefit
from and sell the fowl. The second phase will encompass wider application of the
plan.
Current precautionary measures against bird flu taken seem not to
work. The breeding and trading of live poultry in communities up and down the
Nile Valley is so vital that persuading people in the business to abandon the
practice is seen as futile.
The Minister of Local Administration
Abdel-Salam El-Mahgoub strongly believes that the people need to be encouraged
to protect themselves against the potentially deadly H5N1 strain while breeding
poultry.
Distribution of cages
El-Mahgoub said the ministry
will distribute cages designed by the Agricultural Research Centre to families
to breed poultry in them.
The cages, to be distributed for free, are
designed with food and water containers affixed to them to limit the birds'
movement, thus making it easier to clean the cage and to prevent the birds to be
in contact with its faeces.
More than 3,000 rural health tutors will
educate the selected families as well as other residents in preparation for the
second phase -- how to safely breed birds according to hygienic
measures.
Cheap loans
The new project will help in preserving
Egypt's poultry industry estimated to be at least €2 billion. The new plan is
being implemented through €13.8m loans and grants Egypt receives for the
purpose.
Small loans are to be granted to needy families in order to buy
vaccinated chicks and feed.
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