The Bird Flu Watch initiative is a groundbreaking effort to protect smallholder poultry farmers in Nigeria from the devastating impacts of avian influenza. Developed through a collaboration between Nigerian and Welsh researchers, the initiative seeks to create a mobile application and an accessible information platform that will empower farmers with essential knowledge and tools to manage and prevent bird flu outbreaks. Designed specifically for smallholder farmers, the program emphasizes improving disease awareness, enhancing biosecurity practices, and safeguarding livelihoods.
In Nigeria, poultry farming is a critical sector, accounting for 25% of agricultural GDP and 33% of protein intake. Despite its relevance, farmers have a substantial knowledge gap about avian influenza. According to surveys, barely 60% of Nigerian poultry farmers are aware of bird flu, and less than 17% comprehend how it might be transmitted from animals to people. This lack of awareness, along with the informal nature of many backyard chicken farms, hastens the spread of disease. Furthermore, more than 40% of smallholder farmers lack proper biosecurity measures, making them and their flocks exposed to outbreaks.
The Bird Flu Watch project is being led by Dr. Edore Akpokodje, a computer science lecturer at Aberystwyth University. Dr. Akpokodje highlights the vital role poultry plays in Nigeria’s economy and food security, especially for low-income households. “Poultry provides not just a critical source of animal protein but also essential income for many families. This initiative is designed to offer expert advice, surveillance data, and best practices to enhance disease management and ensure the sustainability of Nigeria’s poultry sector,” he explained. The initiative leverages increasing mobile phone usage and improved rural connectivity to deliver offline, user-friendly resources to farmers.
To ensure the initiative’s success, the program incorporates a strong awareness campaign led by the Neglected Disease Eradication Campaign, a Nigerian NGO dedicated to combating infectious diseases in underserved communities. According to Samson Omeiza Balogun, a parasitology MSc graduate from Aberystwyth University and the NGO’s manager, “Empowering farmers with the right knowledge and resources is pivotal to halting the spread of avian influenza. Innovation is at the heart of this effort, ensuring no farmer is left behind.”
The platform and mobile app are being designed in collaboration with smallholder farmers and various stakeholders, including private and public sectors. The technical development is spearheaded by Omeva Consulting, a Namibian firm specializing in data and IT solutions tailored for smallholder farmers. The initiative is further strengthened by its reliance on real-world insights through a national avian influenza survey, which will gather data on farming practices and levels of awareness about the disease among Nigerian farmers. This participatory approach ensures that the tools and strategies developed are practical, relevant, and widely adoptable.
The Bird Flu Watch initiative has secured funding from the Transformative Research Challenge, a program organized by the World Food Forum in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO UN) and Wageningen University & Research. This competitive grant recognizes innovative proposals from young researchers tackling emerging zoonotic diseases through holistic and global approaches. The support underscores the significance of this project in advancing food security and public health.
By integrating technology, education, and collaboration, the Bird Flu Watch initiative offers a sustainable solution to combat bird flu among smallholder poultry farmers. Its goal is not only to prevent outbreaks but also to enhance the long-term resilience of Nigeria’s poultry industry, securing livelihoods, protecting public health, and contributing to economic stability. This pioneering project represents a significant step forward in addressing infectious diseases in rural communities through accessible and impactful innovation.
