Bird Flu - Problem and Resolution

Even if bird flu does not mutate to become a serious infectious human flu virus, it can have serious consequences for Africa; already it is widespread in poultry flocks in Asia, Egypt, India and Nigeria. The United Nations Food Organisation warns it can have a devastating impact upon millions of people. In many cases in Africa, poultry are a vital source of protein – they supply nearly 50% of protein in Egypt. The severe reduction of poultry in African rural areas could have dire nutritional consequences.

Apart from being spread by wild birds migrating from country to country, the virus is also spread by the movement of poultry and poultry products and even by mud on vehicles and on people’s shoes and the use of poultry and bird manure as a fertiliser.

The flu virus can pass from poultry to humans, but so far as is known not from humans to humans; if it did, it could cause a flu pandemic killing millions of people. According to the Economist magazine (Feb 25, 2006), “the virus is certainly mutating – genetic changes have already affected its biological behaviour, although apparently not yet its transmission between humans”.

Photo: Bro and Sis Posiyano at Milambe ecclesia standing at the goat-house built for the project. The goats were away roaming for food

. As a precautionary measure, Christadelphian Carelink Ministries have suspended its successful chicken-rearing project for the time being. How can we help resolve the potential loss of the nourishing proteins so necessary to healthy living the loss of poultry can cause? For many, the loss of poultry meat could be replaced by breeding rabbits; they can be fed on freely available local food. They need hutches/cages which might be constructed from local surplus materials so that the main initial cost would be the providing of a few rabbits. They need to come from a good meat-producing stock from an established breeder. They breed freely and some of the larger breeds can be eaten at 12 weeks old.

Another suggestion is the rearing of goats, but they need more attention. Goats are hardy, drought and disease resistant animals and breed well, not only producing meat but a regular supply of nourishing protein-giving milk which can also be used to make cheese, soap etc. They also turn weeds, and scrub into valuable manure to fertilise the garden.

Photo: Bro Jonas Ngwanda (standing), George (squating) holding one of the goats, helped by another son at Chinguluwm ecclesias goat-house.

Goats require a house and tethering when out feeding. We have conducted small experiments in two African countries supplying in all 36 goats. The locals have first constructed a goat house and then we have sponsored the provision of a few goats, making it a joint effort.

We are keen on developing this rabbit/goat project but need more information and ideas on how to operate and administer it and also how to resolve any problems that could be encountered. So we invite our readers to tell us how they see the possibilities of such a project working so that we can consider helping those who are willing and capable of helping themselves. We are not just interested in providing protein, but in finding out how such a plan could generate an income to provide for other things. Our endeavour is to generate self-help, self-financing long-term, sustainable schemes. MH