Country-wide digital maps of chicken farms are one way of resisting bird flu The success of an initiative taken by the Desert Research Center in Cairo, to create a data-base of all chicken farms in the Qalubia governorate, is encouraging agricultural authorities to press ahead with plans to expand that data-base to include chicken farms countrywide, said an official at the center. Dr Abdel Hamid Azamel, head of the Desert Poultry and Animal Farming Department at the center, told The Daily Star Egypt that a digital map of the Qalubia chicken farms has been completed. The project was done in coordination with the animal farming sector in the governorate. "The mission began in April 2006 and required a large team, a lot of research and funds to store the data acquired on modern digital gadgets, said Azamel who added that the project aimed to create a database for the whole country at an estimated to cost of LE 1 million. Qalubia's digital map was submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture which is currently studying the best ways to fund the project in light of the urgent need to stem the spread of bird flu in Egypt, added Azamel. Digitalizing animal farming is a strategic project that will restructure the industry, help intensify efforts to resist epidemics on a timely basis and create awareness about which sites should need immediate assistance during emergencies. "The reason why we started with Qalubia is known to all chicken farmers: Qalubia houses the biggest poultry farms in the country and specialists know that the chicken stock market hinges on that province, so it was the natural starting point. The project is the brainchild of Dr Hussein Mansour, an official at the Egyptian Embassy in Washington, who is also a desert expert. "Not only were we welcomed by the farm-owners, says Azamel, "but in some cases we were called in to receive the data. Some of the farmers guided us to the whereabouts of farms that are tucked away in the remote recesses of the province. The majority of farmers, he says, have realized that the survey is a way of protecting their interests and safeguarding an industry that has been dealt serious blows ever since the bird flu scare began. He explained that the survey will not only be beneficial in terms of providing statistics, but it has also tipped data collectors on how flaws in the design of these farms could precipitate the spread of the virus. According to Azamel, Qalubia houses 3, 547 farms existing, 1, 555 of which are located in Banha, 621 in Kafr Shukr, 738 in Tukh, 215 in Shebin El Qanater, 99 in Khanka, 110 in Qalub, and 209 in El Qanater El Khairiya. "It was shocking to learn that 80 percent of the farms are in the first three divisions of the governorate, he noted. "The new digital map indicated that some 64 farms are crammed within one square kilometer in the northern villages as compared to 10 in every square kilometer in the southern areas, he added. Besides the help of the general-public, the Desert Research Center will join hands with the health, environment and agriculture ministries to form a national committee tasked with monitoring the bird flu situation in Egypt.
