The Ministry of Agriculture said in an interview on Hoy Mismo TV show that the government is taking measures to control the Newcastle virus that has affected poultry producers. The virus has primarily affected small producers in the province of Espaillat (Moca).
To date, Ministry of Agriculture says that its Department of Livestock has identified 60 small poultry farms that will be sanitized, be provided with healthy baby chicks. The Ministry is also assisting with the restructuring of the poultry farm debts with the governmental Agricultural Bank and other financial institutions, as well as helping with readjusting debts with input suppliers. The Ministry is also stepping up the campaigns to raise awareness among producers of the advantages to maintaining ongoing poultry vaccination programs.
Agriculture Minister Osmar Benítez also seeks to spread the word that eating chicken is safe. During an interview on the Hoy Mismo TV show, the Minister said that “eating chicken meat is safe and the cheapest protein.” After the news of the virus spread, poultry consumption dropped significantly.
Benítez says the country can produce up to 25 million chickens per month. He noted that the Dominican poultry industry has the most advanced technology in the entire Caribbean for production under a controlled environment. He again attributed the cases of Newcastle virus to the negligence of small producers to comply with the vaccination protocols.
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Hoy
16 January 2020