BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
Murewa poultry farmers who are beneficiaries of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) supported Farm Field School, have revealed that the programme which was teaching them about Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), had not only helped them with the much needed knowledge but also improved their livelihoods.
The villagers revealed this on Day 5 (Wednesday) of the World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week for the Africa Campaign which was held at Mukusha Homestead in Kambarami Village.
Several farmers revealed that before the coming in of FAO, they were self diagnosing and self medicating their chickens, thereby not only endangering the lives of their birds but their own too.
Elina Takaedza aged 53, from Ward 10, revealed that before the project, she was not aware what AMR was about and how it concerned her as a poultry farmer.
Takaedza revealed that the project started in June 2021 in Chidhakwa Village and they were 25.
“What I can say is that we were not aware of this programme but now I can say that I’m well knowledgeable on the issue, all thanks to FAO.
“Now I know that you have to use correct medication when rearing our poultry.
“We were using some drugs which are not supposed to be used for poultry. We were taking medication meant for humans and giving it to our chickens.
“But we then we got to know that the over use or under use of antimicrobials will lead to antimicrobial resistance. We also got to learn that AMR will be a concern to humans if they are to eat the meat where AMR was a risk.
“It’s really a tough scenario because most people are unaware consuming meat where there was a risk of AMR.
She added that whilst some people who were not part of the programme thought it was easy, thinking they were just getting everything for free, it wasn’t so as hard work had to be practiced to succeed.
“What I can just say is that FAO gave us something that we will never forget.
“At first we didn’t know that there was a special medication for poultry which cannot be used for humans but now we have that knowledge.
“So we were taught on behavioral change in antimicrobial use and we also realised that we can produce more in our farming production.”
Takaedza also revealed that they were empowered on bio-security measures and they were told by the experts to do what is best for their production.
She further said that they started off with 100 chickens and bags of feed but already, all members were able to get 25 birds and feed each, as proceeds from the initial 100 birds batch.
Takaedza also said they have continued with their project which continues to bear fruits for them.
Another farmer openly revealed that she had been using antibiotics to treat her chickens before she finally saw the light and is now bearing the fruits of this FAO led initiative.
Amanda Gwangwadze an Agricultural Extension Officer, who trained the farmers revealed that they had to study what was causing AMR issues.
“So we found out that the major driver of AMR is antimicrobial use and in this we were looking at it in relation to broilers whereby people get to eat those (broilers) which have resistance towards antibiotics.
“So when someone eats a chicken which had developed resistance towards antibiotics for example, this is not good for their health.
“Some people were using antibiotics like amoxyline and then others were using antiretrovirals which are all meant for humans.
“The farmers were using the antibiotics so that their chickens appear very good for the market,” said Gwangwadze.
She revealed that the programme initially started with 19 farmers, before the number grew to 25 but then they later had a few drop outs.
Gwangwadze added that the main objective was to get farmers was to have behaviour change in how they were using antibiotics.
“They (farmers) were abusing antibiotics for their chickens and with time, because of the abuse of the medication, it then got to lose its effect.
“But after the training, they got to know that they had to seek expert’s advice from the Vet or Agricultural Extension Officers.
“We would have situations where farmers were giving their chickens ARVs and looking at the birds’ sizes, you could tell something was amiss and some would confess,” said Gwangwadze.
She added that they were also training farmers on bio security measures; hygiene practices needed in rearing of chickens so as to get better production.
And to show that the AMR awareness programme in poultry farming had really been well received in the Murewa rural, pupils from nearby schools were reciting poems and acting dramas on AMR.
And not to be outdone by the pupils, the farmers who were part of the Farm Field School, also showed that they were good students after all, reciting poems and acted dramas on AMR much to the appreciation of guests who gathered at Mukusha Homestead.
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