Newcastle disease is one of the main factors that has affected domestic poultry production in Mozambique

After 4 years of intervention in the FAO´s Millennium Development Goals(MDG1) programme, more than 1 million poultry were vaccinated against Newcastle disease in the Vanduzi, Gondola, Manica, Sussundenga, Barué and Macate districts , in the central Mozambican province of Manica.

This is the balance made by FAO and partners of the provincial government that met for two days (18 and 19 April) to evaluate the vaccination campaigns against Newcastle disease in Manica during the period of 2014-2017.

The meeting took place in the city of Chimoio, with the participation of representatives of the National Veterinary Department (DINAVE), the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Food Security (DPASA), the Directors of District Services for Economic Activities (SDAE), Livestock Delegates of the districts covered , representatives of community vaccinators and FAO staff, aimed at evaluating the vaccination campaigns carried out and preparing the output strategy for the FAO programme, which ends at the end of 2018.

According to Luísa Patrocínio, FAO's responsible of the vaccination campaigns, "it is essential that, at all levels, at the district, provincial and national levels, that the necessary support is given to continue to control the disease and thus contribute to improve the food security of the most vulnerable families ".

The EU-funded MDG1c programme, implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security with technical support from FAO in the vaccination component against Newcastle disease, began operations in the Province of Manica at the beginning of 2014 and trained 280 Community vaccinators.

Representing the provincial government of Manica, Jimis Deve said that: "The work that has been done over the last four years has contributed positively to the control of this disease and has also served to create local capacity that will ensure the continuity of the work done." 
                 
Newcastle disease is one of the main factors that has affected domestic poultry production, especially chickens in the family sector and can reach mortality rates between 70 and 80 percent.