Proactive Steps Are More Important

A recent rumour has raised concerns about widespread infections and deaths in poultry farms. Some have also spoken of widespread disease and a lack of vaccinations. 

With the rapid spread of the news on social media, concern among everyone—breeders, traders, and consumers—grew. However, an official response came quickly from the Ministry of Agriculture and General Organization For Veterinary Services to deny this rumor. They announced that no unnatural deaths had been recorded, and that all veterinary vaccinations are available in all governorates. Veterinary monitoring teams are monitoring farm conditions daily, and no epidemic outbreaks have been detected. The swift response came in a timely manner to reassure everyone and dismiss the malicious rumor. This is undoubtedly a good thing.

But amid these reassurances, the question remains: How do we prevent these concerns from recurring? And when do we move from reaction to proactive planning?

The poultry industry in Egypt has made great strides in recent years, and we have reached self-sufficiency. There are even exports to Arab and African markets. However, to date, significant challenges are facing farmers, such as high costs, sometimes difficult access to vaccinations, and a lack of awareness in some areas.

It is important to strive to achieve strong and stable self-sufficiency in poultry, by supporting farmers, as 80% of production comes from them in addition to developing breeding systems to be safer and more productive and ensuring the availability of feed and vaccinations at reasonable prices. Transparency must be ensured, and any health problems that arise in any region must be immediately reported. Coordination must be maintained among all responsible authorities, and farmers must not be left to face challenges alone.

The rumor was dismissed, and the reassurances came just in time. However, the real work must begin to develop this industry, which represents a fundamental pillar of food security. What is required is not only to respond to crises, but also to prepare for them before they begin, and to work toward achieving strong self-sufficiency that every farmer and every consumer can feel.