New challenges in the poultry sector

The year 2006 remained gloomy in the memory of some farmers.
"I do not know how to forget this year. I am not ready to forget. The state forced me to lose more than 3000 fowls; I had just started that business with two million CFA francs,” lamented Jean Bertrand Kouagueu, a 52-year old man who is specialized in the sale of eggs.

“Certainly everything is now going back to normal. But I made a lot of sacrifices and also increased my moral. I was very sad to see people burning my eggs which I invested a lot of investment to produce. It was bad, very bad!” revealed Raymond Ndjikam, a poultry farmer who has regained his morale. It was in 2006 when the avian flu came from Nigeria to hit Cameroon poultry sector.

The control of goods entering the country was strengthened. But, despite these measures, fowls were found dead in the Far North Region. It was a general panic.

This became more alarming when the Flu hit Bastos in Yaoundé. The government thus ordered the destruction of eggs and poultry in the entire country.

"It was said that this was one of the best solutions for the population not be affected," recalled Jean Bertrand Kouagueu.

Years after the recovery were made and to date, new horizons are targeted.

New challenges

After this sad period, new challenges have emerged. "The state helped us a lot. The recovery is noticeable. In 2014 for example, there were 950,000 broiler chicks per week, but I think that these performances have already been revised upwards. We are working above performance this year,” said a source from the Agricultural Ministry.

According to sources, the new challenges of the poultry sector are in manifolds. "It is not surplus to say that we have become self-sufficient in poultry production.

But our present problem lies at the southern part of the country, where some smugglers use to import frozen chickens. It’s not regular, but it disrupts the industry there.

Another challenge is what Minister Taiga is trying to implement, which is to see that every Cameroonian consume at least 17 kg of egg products annually.

"The ministry is devoted to make a real poultry industry. We would like to adopt “poultry-economy concept”, which is a new concept from Canada where they want poultry farming to have a weight place in the GDP, “it said.

The ministry said it is in war against the “Newcastle virus”, a type of cholera that decimated a year about 30% of the herd.

The Ministry also plans to build markets places and shop in collaboration with several departments by the end of this year.

"This will be done in collaboration with the poultry Interprofession (Ipavic) for the benefit of all consumers of egg products," sources informed.