It has been known that Newcastle, a poultry disease which appears during the hot seasons, blows millions of Kwacha's every hear in the country.
In an interview with the National Coordinator for Smallholder Poultry Farmers Association of Malawi (SPOFAM) Ernest Wyson, said ninety percent of revenue is lost in Malawi from traditional poultry keepers through the disease.
He said, : "Up to ninety percent of village chicken stocks are lost annually in affected stocks in Malawi, traditional poultry keepers lose millions of Kwacha's annually."
In Malawi, the disease appears two to three times a year during the hot months and do kill many chickens within a few days or a week.
According to Wyson, under extreme temperatures that are sometimes associated with climate change, some poultry can hardly cope with the conditions considering their body temperatures.
He also added that the disease is spread directly by contact between sick and healthy chickens and also that farmers should try as much as possible to keep their birds under minimum recommended temperatures.
While other farmers opt for several remedies to cure the disease, Wyson reminds that there is no treatment for Newcastle disease but can be prevented using vaccines which he also stressed the upsurge of the disease is due to lack of the vaccines and care more especially in the traditional poultry keeping.
"Vaccination against Newcastle will protect only against Newcastle disease, not other diseases. Chickens vaccinated against Newcastle disease may still die of other diseases. Vaccination of chickens against this disease is cheap and it is one of the most important ways in which to improve chicken production." Said Wyson.
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