Mobilization of REGIS-AG and Its Partners in Promoting Animal Health 

Newcastle Disease: An Obstacle in the Development of the Nigerien Poultry Value Chain

Newcastle disease[1] is a highly contagious viral disease negatively affecting poultry in the West African region, where 40-70% of unvaccinated rural poultry are killed by the disease. The risk and impact of the virus, which spreads easily throughout flocks, can vary in severity from strain to strain and is also dependent on environmental conditions (such as immunity and the animal’s overall health). Outbreaks can occur at any time of the year but happen with greater frequency during the cold season. Vaccination is the only prevention method for this disease, and there is currently an effective, affordable vaccine ($0.08 or 50 CFAF per subject) that is heat-stable, easy to use for smallholder farmers (administered by eye drops), and produced in Niger. The vaccine is called I-2—produced with strain I-2 virus—and is critical in the effort to promote animal health in Niger and the Sahelian region. 

Mobilization of REGIS-AG and Its Partners in Promoting Animal Health

To significantly reduce the mortality rate of poultry in Niger, the NGO Poulailler du Développement provided the I-2 vaccine and sought the support of the USAID-funded Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel – Accelerated Growth (REGIS–AG) project in organizing a broad awareness campaign to inform poultry farmers on the control of Newcastle disease and encourage producers in allowing auxiliary veterinarian networks (SVPP) to administer the I-2 vaccine. This operation was conducted in November 2015 in the Tillaberi region with support[2] from REGIS-AG and Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel – Enhanced Resilience (REGIS-ER) and continues to stimulate much enthusiasm in rural areas.

723,704 subjects were vaccinated in the Tillaberi campaign, including chickens, guinea fowl, pigeons, and ducks.

One beneficiary, Aissa Harouna Konne of Beri, testified regarding the women’s enthusiasm saying, “This is the first time that such an activity was held in our village. Poultry farming is practiced by almost all households in the village. It is the only source of income for households, especially for women. This is a very important source of income. It represents one of the few opportunities for savings, investment, and protection against risk. However, for a long time every year, we had to restock because of the diseases, particularly ‘zounkou, koitou, kekoga‘ (the traditional name for the Newcastle disease). I still remember five years ago, these diseases were not frequent; the family poultry farm was twice the size of the farms that we have had these recent years. The campaign of vaccination against the disease is a very valuable initiative.” 

The Tillaberri vaccination campaign against Newcastle disease was extremely successful, and partners both in the public and private sectors are working to replicate similar activities in Maradi and Zinder. REGIS-AG and partners REGIS-ER and Vétérinaires Sans Frontières will work together to facilitate and scale up this beneficial activity to its other operational areas. 

[1] It is also called “Newcastle disease,” “avian pneumoencephalitis,” or “Ranikhet disease.” It is also known under the generic name of “fowl plague.”
[2] This support has focused on the management of vaccinators and the elements responsible for the supervision, awareness, and visibility of the campaign (knitwear for vaccinators and educational messages via radio.)