Training on farm bio-security, flock vaccination and improved farm management was conducted for duck farmers in Mojekerto, East Java.

Foods made from the meat and eggs of ducks are becoming more popular nowadays. The demand for these products has continued to intensify over the last 10 years. This has resulted in a significant growth of enterprises which raise ducks for consumption. With increased numbers of poorly managed commercial duck farms, diseases continue to emerge. The avian influenza virus (HPAI clade 2.3.2) was detected among ducks for the first time in 2012.

This strain of Bird Flu virus causes a high rate of mortality, reaching around 75-100%, especially in young ducks. In this case, ducks not only act as carriers and spreaders of the virus, but their deaths also represent high economic losses for the farmer.

In view of this, FAO ECTAD Indonesia, together with the Ministry of Agriculture through the USAID-funded EPT2 program, is conducting a cost-benefit assessment of poultry farm biosecurity management. The program has involved around 50 commercial duck breeders, both layers and broilers in Mojokerto, East Java Province. This study is needed as a reference point, not only for the Indonesian Government but also for commercial duck farmers on how to ensure good and integrated duck farming management and increase productivity.

The cost-benefit assessment consists of two study phases, namely the baseline phase where data is obtained on duck production by farmers before they receive training by the FAO. The intervention phase follows, involving the implementation of interventions to improve farm biosecurity and promote better vaccination and animal management.

Before entering the intervention phase, 50 duck farmers and 11 field officers from the Mojekerto Animal Health and Veterinary Public Health department attended a training program in early 2018. Alfred Kompudu, FAO Technical Advisor, said the pre-intervention training provides an understanding of farm biosecurity, flock vaccination and animal management. "Before we commence the second phase, we first train breeders who participated in the first phase of the study, including the local animal health field officers," said Alfred.

The training program was conducted in Mojekerto for 2 days, on January 9-10, 2018 to educate duck breeders on improved biosecurity protocols, duck diseases, vaccine cold chain maintenance, methods of bird vaccination, good duckling brooding practice and feed formulations for ducks.

During the training, Ir. Suliestywati, Head of the Mojekerto Service, expressed her full support for the activities being conducted for the first time in the region. Farmers who follow this training should implement their new knowledge on their farms to improve profitability. "Use this training opportunity as best you can and do not hesitate to ask questions if anything is unclear," the Head of Service said.

Suliestywati hopes that the technical guidance given by the FAO will continue until the end of the training and study period. She also wants the training to be followed up through regular on-farm assistance. "Activities like this are very important and useful for duck farmers in our region. We are ready to support other livestock activities from the Ministry of Agriculture and FAO ECTAD Indonesia in Mojokerto regency,” she concluded.

Echoing the message of the Head of Animal Health Services, two of the 50 duck farmers who received the training, Munasrib and Yana, expressed their thanks for the knowledge gained during the training, as well as the opportunity to meet other duck farmers and establish friendships and networking relationships. They hope that FAO will continue to encourage duck farmers to progress and become more efficient and profitable through improved farming methods.