Mapping chicken production and distribution networks in Vietnam: An analysis of socio-economic factors and their epidemiological significances.

The growing chicken industry in Viet Nam has an increasingly important contribution to the country's food security, but its development requires careful planning to prevent disease risks. This study characterizes the chicken production and distribution networks in Vietnam and identifies potential factors that could promote disease emergence and transmission. Qualitative data were collected from interviews with 29 key informants from five stakeholder groups representing the main nodes from chicken production and distribution networks (PDN). Three main networks were identified based on production type: a colored broiler and spent hen network, a white (or exotic) broiler network, and an egg network. Colored chickens and spent hens are the most preferred commodity by vietnamese consumers and their PDN is composed of production units differing in their scale and management and with long distribution chains involving numerous small-scale independent stakeholders. Live bird markets plays a central role in this network, which is driven by consumers' preference for live chickens. The white chicken network presents an important duality, as it is composed of both a large number of independent household farms and traders operating independently with little chain coordination, and of large farms contracted by vertically-integrated companies. The egg PDN was the most organized network, being mostly controlled by large vertically-integrated companies. High level specialization and diversification of stakeholders is found in all three networks. Stakeholders' perceptions of the main factors promoting disease risk along the PDN were the low biosecurity in household farms and live bird markets, mobile traders, the informal slaughter of birds and the management of sick birds. Findings from this study can be used to plan future studies to support food system planners in the development of safer poultry production and distribution in Vietnam.

Using Dairy Value Chains to Identify Production Constraints and Biosecurity Risks.

The dairy industry plays an important role in the economy and food security of India. A study of the dairy value chains was conducted in Punjab, India, to identify production constraints and biosecurity risks. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were conducted during 2018-2019 with a total of 119 participants comprising veterinarians (41), paraveterinarians (15), veterinary academics (12), dairy farmers (46) and key informants (5). Input and output value chains were created, and potential risk nodes were identified that could facilitate the transmission of pathogens between animals, farms and villages. The majority of the participants were male (93%), middle-aged (68%) or worked in rural areas (75%). Most of the farmers self-cultivated their green fodder (82%), used the wheat straw from their own fields (60%) but purchased commercial feed (63%). Artificial insemination was used by 85% of farmers for cattle, but only 68% for buffaloes. Most of the farmers (76%) reported getting their animals vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease and hemorrhagic septicemia. Animals were sold and purchased without any health certification and testing in most cases. Adoption of biosecurity measures by farmers and the use of personal protective equipment by veterinary personnel were very low. We recommend conducting epidemiological studies to further characterize the identified risk nodes, training of veterinary practitioners and farmers to ensure adequate biosecurity practices and the appropriate use of personal protective equipment.

Understanding fish production and marketing systems in North-western Nigeria and identification of potential food safety risks using value chain framework.

Fish production systems in North-western Nigeria have a significant role in food, nutrition and income generations to families, yet an important setup for zoonotic disease transmission. The aim of this study was to provide a broad knowledge of the structure, activities and food safety risks of the fish value chains operating in North-western Nigeria using the value chain framework. A total of 16 focus groups and 8 key informant interviews were conducted to gather data from fish producers, fish sellers and fish processors in selected peri-urban and rural settlements in Kaduna State. In addition, 129 semi-structured questionnaires and observation checklists were used in this study to gather evidence-based data, such as demography of value chain actors, product characterization, and food safety risks. The fish value-chain in North-western Nigeria is characterised by four main stakeholders, namely, fish producers, transporters, as well as raw- and processed-fish-sellers (wholesalers, retailers). Two major sources were identified supplying farmed fish to North-western Nigeria: the distributors from the central and southern part of the country and the fish farmers within the North-western and North-eastern regions of Nigeria. Raw-fish-wholesalers within the two major markets sold most of their high-value products to raw-fish-retailers, while low-value products were routed to raw-fish-retailers in the rural communities, processed-fish-retailers and household consumers in rural settlements. There were no large companies operating and no differentiation of chains between aquaculture and wild fishery. Raw fishes not sold and began to rot were sold to street vendors at a cheaper price and household consumers. Fish production and supply chains were characterised by poor structural and sanitary support for food safety and hygiene measures. Food safety risks identified were related to lack of biosecurity measures in fish farms, lack of cold chain and access to running water, poor hygiene practices by all handlers, lack of fish inspection at all levels, lack of use of protective clothing and limited health inspection of handlers. In overall, government control of activities in fish value chains was relatively poor leading to the absence of food safety regulatory enforcement characterised by lack of institutional goals on improving food safety measures in a chain-wide distribution. Hence, this study points the significant structural, sanitary and hygiene limitations along the fish value chain components. It provides a baseline for microbial food safety risk assessments, and information required for policy-making regarding implementation of disease control programmes, as the sector is fast-evolving in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Identification of production challenges and benefits using value chain mapping of egg food systems in Nairobi, Kenya.

Commercial layer and indigenous chicken farming in Nairobi and associated activities in the egg value chains are a source of livelihood for urban families. A value chain mapping framework was used to describe types of inputs and outputs from chicken farms, challenges faced by producers and their disease control strategies. Commercial layer farms were defined as farms keeping exotic breeds of chicken, whereas indigenous chicken farms kept different cross breeds of indigenous chicken. Four focus group discussions were held with producers of these chickens in peri-urban area: Dagoretti, and one informal settlement: Kibera. Qualitative data were collected on interactions between farmers, sources of farm inputs and buyers of poultry products, simple ranking of production challenges, farmers' perception on diseases affecting chicken and strategies for management of sick chicken and waste products. Value chain profiles were drawn showing sources of inputs and channels for distribution of chicken products. Production challenges and chicken disease management strategies were presented as qualitative summaries. Commercial layer farms in Dagoretti kept an average of 250 chickens (range 50-500); while flock sizes in Kibera were 12 chickens (range 5-20). Farms keeping indigenous chicken had an average of 23 chickens (range 8-40) in Dagoretti, and 10 chickens (range 5-16) in Kibera. Commercial layer farms in Dagoretti obtained chicks from distributors of commercial hatcheries, but farms in Kibera obtained chicks from hawkers who in turn sourced them from distributors of commercial hatcheries. Indigenous chicken farms from Dagoretti relied on natural hatching of fertilised eggs, but indigenous chicken farms in Kibera obtained chicks from their social connection with communities living in rural areas. Outlets for eggs from commercial layer farms included local shops, brokers, restaurants and hawkers, while eggs from indigenous chicken farms were sold to neighbours and restaurants. Sieved chicken manure from Dagoretti area was fed to dairy cattle; whereas non-sieved manure was used as fertilizer on crops. Production challenges included poor feed quality, lack of space for expansion, insecurity, occurrence of diseases and lack of sources of information on chicken management. In Kibera, sick and dead chickens were slaughtered and consumed by households; this practice was not reported in Dagoretti. The chicken layer systems contribute to food security of urban households, yet they have vulnerabilities and deficiencies with regard to disease management and food safety that need to be addressed with support on research and extension.