App to protect Nigerian farms from bird flu

Dr Edore Akpokodje

Nigerian and Welsh researchers are developing a new app and information platform to help protect poultry farms and farmers from bird flu.

The Bird Flu Watch initiative is led by a group of researchers and entrepreneurs and is specifically designed for smallholders.

In Nigeria, poultry accounts for 33% of total protein consumption and contributes 25% to the agricultural GDP.

Surveys show that only 60% of farmers in the country are aware of bird flu, and fewer than one in six understand that it can pass from animals to people.

The vast majority of poultry farmers in Nigeria are smallholders with backyard operations that are known to aid the transmission of bird flu.

Over 40% of these farmers lack sufficient knowledge of biosecurity practices, leaving them and their poultry at risk.

The project is supervised by Dr Edore Akpokodje, a lecturer in Computer Science at Aberystwyth University:

“Poultry is essential for the economy and food security in Nigeria, providing a crucial source of animal protein and vital resources for low-income households. The project aims to improve Nigerian smallholder farmers’ awareness of avian influenza. By offering expert advice, surveillance data, and sharing best practice, the platform seeks to improve disease management and ensure the sustainability of Nigeria's poultry industry, as well as the health of farmers and ecosystems.

“With increasing use of mobile phones  and better rural connectivity among smallholder farmers, this platform aims to build on this momentum by providing accessible, offline information that can improve the health of people, animals and ecosystems.”

Avian influenza can also be transmitted to wild birds, which contribute to the spread of the disease and cause outbreaks world-wide.

The awareness campaign will be led by the Neglected Disease Eradication Campaign, a Nigerian NGO dedicated to curbing infectious diseases in rural communities.  Samson Omeiza Balogun, MSc graduate student in parasitology from Aberystwyth University and manager of the campaign, said:

“Empowering farmers with knowledge and resources is crucial to preventing the spread of avian influenza, and innovation is key to ensuring we leave no one behind.”

The app and platforms will be designed in consultation with farmers, private and public sectors.

Segun Adepoju, founder of Poultry Connect, added:

“Our aim is to leverage technology and information sharing to advance the poultry sector in Nigeria.”

The app and platform will be developed by Omeva Consulting, a Namibian company specialising in harnessing data and IT solutions for smallholder farmers.

Maria Luisa de la Puerta, representative of Omeva Consulting, said:

“We are excited to foster cooperation among African countries and to contribute our expertise and lessons learned across the continent to this important initiative.”

The campaign will begin with a comprehensive national survey to collect data on current farming practices, awareness, and understanding of avian influenza among smallholder farmers. Interested farmers can participate here: https://forms.gle/A24vquL8v7EXfoFH6

The project has been funded by the Transformative Research Challenge, organised by the World Food Forum in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO UN) and Wageningen University & Research. This fund recognises innovative research proposals from young researchers focused on preventing emerging zoonotic diseases through a global and holistic approach.

ArewaLadies4Tech, an initiative of Data Science Nigeria committed to empowering the women of Northern Nigeria, is also supporting the project and the awareness campaign.

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