The establishment of a poultry farm as an entry-level intervention in Akpawfu community commenced on October 27, 2015. The project focused on broiler bird rearing as part of a community-based economic empowerment initiative. A parcel of land was identified, mapped out, and fully constructed to serve as the poultry house, ensuring it met the necessary standards for raising healthy birds.
On the day of inspection and fumigation, representatives from the Enugu State Agency for the Control of AIDS (ENSACA) and State Support Officers (SSOs) were present to oversee the readiness of the facility. This process ensured that the poultry environment was clean, safe, and well-prepared before introducing the birds.
Day-old chicks were stocked into the poultry house on October 29, 2015. Remarkably, there was no mortality case recorded at the initial stage, indicating that proper biosecurity measures and animal husbandry practices were being followed. Routine services such as feeding, cleaning, and monitoring of the birds’ health have been ongoing since the start of the project.
As part of disease prevention measures, the birds have been vaccinated against Gumboro and Newcastle (Lasota) diseases, which are common in poultry production. The vaccination schedule continues to be followed, with additional vaccines planned to ensure the flock remains healthy until maturity.
This poultry farm initiative not only serves as a livelihood support programme for the Akpawfu community but also represents a sustainable approach to improving household income and food security while promoting community involvement in income-generating activities.
