Ogun orders poultry farms, value chain operators registration

Ogun State government has directed poultry farms with over 250 birds capacity, hatchery operators, live bird markets and poultry processing facilities in the state to register with the Ministry of Agriculture in accordance with Animal Disease Control Act 2004.

The commissioner of Agriculture, Mrs Adepeju Adebajo, who disclosed this in Abeokuta, said the registration, commencing immediately, in collaboration with the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PANOG) Ogun State Chapter, would give the state opportunity to have updated database of the poultry farmers and other value-chain operators, for better control of zoonotic and endemic diseases.

She noted that the exercise would also put into focus farms that are entitled to compensation in case of outbreak of zoonotic diseases like the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza.

Adebajo therefore solicited the cooperation of all stakeholders for a thorough and successful registration process, warning that defaulters will be made to face the full weight of the law or even closure of such farms or hatcheries if need be, in the event of disease outbreak and other unforeseen eventualities caused by their negligence.