Gateway to poultry production and products

Poultry farmer field schools and antimicrobial resistance

Country Kenya
Year 2021
Copyright ©FAO/Luis Tato
Description

16 March 2021, Gatundu, Kiambu County, Kenya - Members of Kahuruko Farmer Field School inspect some chicken as an activity for the Farmer Field School at a farm in Kahuruko near Gatundu, Kiambu County, Kenya on March 16, 2020. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the ability of a microorganism to survive and grow in the presence of antimicrobial drugs that were killing or destroying it before. AMR develops naturally, but slowly, and can be accelerated by overuse or misuse of antimicrobial drugs. The emergence and spread of AMR in several microorganisms is complicating the management of many infectious diseases. AMR is a major threat to human development and the fight against infectious diseases. It endangers animal health and welfare, as well as food production. AMR also adversely affects the functioning of human, animal and plant health systems and economies. Interventions were set up by FAO and Government of Kenya in Gatundu North to target timely vaccinations, hygiene and proper feeding of the birds to prevent disease, reducing the use of drugs to stop AMR. The interventions were based on Farmer Field School (FFS) approach, where farmers (3 farmer groups) have been meeting at the demo farms (3 farms) on a weekly basis since September 15th 2020. In each of the FFS trainings, two facilitators (previously trained on how to run FFS) are engaged to guide the discussions.