A press release from the Ministry stated that the exercise was done in regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Ten with 1,334 broiler chicks being vaccinated and 100 packets of vitamin supplement distributed in Region Three. East Bank Demerara farmers received assistance with the vaccination of 1,915 broiler chicks and 51 packets of vitamin supplement while the exercise which commenced last Friday on the East Coast Demerara saw 168 small poultry farmers benefiting.

In Region Five the exercise commenced last Thursday with approximately 500 farmers benefiting and 400 farmers benefited from the exercise that began last Saturday in Region Six while in Region Ten 405 broiler chicks were vaccinated with 32 packets of vitamin supplement distributed.

The stunted poultry growth phenomenon was first noticed several months ago and subsequent investigations detected a disease in the poultry which caused stunted growth and high mortality while the unavailability of feed nutrients was also said to be the cause of a large number of dead and stunted chickens.

Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud at a press conference earlier had said that the Agriculture Ministry would source one million doses of vaccines and planned to work with small poultry farmers who are most affected.

The activity is ongoing simultaneously in the listed regions to satisfy requests made by farmers, the release said.

ThePoultrySite News Desk