Ogun State government has encouraged farmers to desist from the use of unauthorized vaccination in a bid to curb the sudden emergence of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Diseases, RHDs.

Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Adeola Odedina gave the advice at a seminar put together for poultry farmers, at Veterinary Hospital Complex, Ita-Eko, Abeokuta, with the theme, “Promoting and Sustaining Healthy and Profitable Cuniculture in Ogun State”.

Dr Odedina who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Dotun Sorunke, said the state government would continue to harness the integrated surveillance response, as well as engage the farmers on continuous education on ways to combat the spread of emerging RHDs.

The Commissioner for Agriculture who sympathised with the affected farmers over the loss of over three thousand rabbits said vaccination of the animal against the disease was not an option to reduce the outbreak of RHDs.

In a lecture entitled “Cuniculture: where it was, where it is and where it ought to be”, the Director, Veterinary Services, Dr. Taiwo Jolaoso lamented that most rabbit farmers were not registered with the government and hardly consult veterinary doctors, which he said contributed largely to outbreak of the communicable disease in the industry.

Some participants including Mr Oluwakemi Balogun and Mr Olusola Badmus appealed to government to always off-take animal dung which they noted could be converted to useful material like fertiliser, thereby creating employment and generating income.

Olusegun Folarin