DELSU Professor Advocates Use Of Artificial Intelligence In Poultry Farming

Professor Jonathan Tsetimi, a professor of Industrial Mathematics at Delta State University (DELSU, Abraka, is calling for the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in poultry farming to improve food production in Nigeria.

He made the call at the 2024 Poultry Summit of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Delta State Chapter, held at the Conference Centre of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Effurun, on the 8th of June, 2024.

Professor Tsetimi is the Director of the Centre for Research and International Programmes, Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka.

DELSU DELEGATION AND PAN EXECUTIVES

He is also the Vice-President South-South of the National Association of Artificial Intelligence Practitioners (NAAIP), and a poultry farmer of repute.

Professor Tsetimi’s plea comes from his recent presentation titled “The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Poultry Farming”.

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The presentation, delivered using an engaging PowerPoint presentation filled with informative videos, highlighted the potential of AI to revolutionize the Nigerian poultry farming industry.

His presentations were greeted with enthusiasm by the participants at the summit and elicited a standing ovation at the end of the delivery.

PROF TSETIMI AND SOME DIGNITARIES

Professor Tsetimi argued that AI can automate various aspects of poultry farming, such as feed management, bio-security, disease detection, and environmental control.

This automation, he said, would lead to increased efficiency and productivity in poultry farms, directly addressing Nigeria’s food security challenges.

The use of AI in poultry farming is a relatively new concept in Nigeria.

However, Professor Tsetimi’s presentation has sparked interest among stakeholders in the agricultural sector. It is hoped that his advocacy will lead to further research and development in this area.

The well-attended Delta State Poultry Summit saw the PTI Conference Centre filled to its full capacity with poultry farmers across all the local government areas of Delta State and beyond, government functionaries, researchers in the academia, captains of industries, poultry feed manufacturers, veterinary doctors and key persons in the poultry value chain across the country.

The chief host of the Poultry Summit was the Chairman of PAN Delta State Chief Eric Eseoghene Tomfawei. The Rt. Hon. Elder Sheriff Oborevwori, JP, the governor of Delta State was the special guest of honour of the Summit and his deputy Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA was the guest of honour.

The Vice-Chancellor of Delta State University, Abraka Professor Andy Ogochukwu Egwunyenga, represented by the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Professor (Mrs) Dicta Ogisi delivered a special goodwill message to the participants at the summit.

Among the dignitaries at the Poultry Summit was National President of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, Ichie Sunday Ezobiora and the immediate past Chairman of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, Delta State Chapter, Chief Alfred Mrakpor

The theme of the 2024 PAN Delta Poultry Summit was: “The Role of Government, NGOs and Research Institutions in the Sustainability of Small and Medium Scale Poultry Industry for Food Security, Employment and Self Reliance In Delta State”

Here are some of the key takeaways from Professor Tsetimi’s presentation:
AI Applications in Poultry Farming:
• Monitoring bird health through AI-powered cameras to detect illness or stress.
• Optimizing feed and water consumption with AI systems analyzing data on bird weight, age, and environmental conditions.
• Automating egg collection and grading using AI-powered robots and computer vision systems.
• Maintaining optimal environments for bird health through AI-controlled temperature, ventilation, and humidity.
• Predicting future events like outbreaks or production fluctuations using AI analysis of historical data.
• Identifying individual birds for breeding and tracking with AI-powered facial recognition.
• Improving biosecurity with AI-powered video analytics to detect unauthorized access and wildlife intrusion.
• Data-driven decision making based on real-time insights provided by AI analysis of various farm data sources.

Challenges of Implementing AI in Poultry Farming:
• Cost: Implementing AI systems can be expensive, especially for small-scale farmers.
• Data Security: Securing farm data from cyberattacks is crucial.
• Technical Expertise: Operating and maintaining AI systems requires some technical knowledge.
• Integration with Existing Systems: Integrating AI with existing farm management software can be challenging.
• Ethical Considerations: Increased automation raises concerns about animal welfare.
• Other challenges include data quality, limited explainability of AI systems, and potential biases in AI algorithms.
The Future of AI in Poultry Farming:
• Continued development of AI applications in areas like automatic disease diagnosis, personalized nutrition plans, and improved breeding programs.
• AI’s role in promoting sustainable farming through resource use optimization and reduced environmental impact.
• The evolving poultry farming workforce with a demand for workers with technical skills and data analysis capabilities, while still requiring animal husbandry expertise.
Recommendations for the Nigerian Government:
• Promote AI in agriculture through awareness campaigns and training programs for farmers.
• Invest in rural internet connectivity to ensure data flow for AI applications.
• Provide subsidies or tax breaks to incentivize AI adoption by farmers.
• Fund research into AI for local poultry breeds.
• Partner with universities and startups to foster collaboration in AI development.
• Develop strategies to make AI solutions affordable for small-scale farmers.
• Create regulations to ensure farm data privacy and security.
Professor Tsetimi’s presentation on AI in poultry farming paints a promising picture for the future of food production in Nigeria. By embracing AI and addressing the challenges, Nigeria can leverage this technology to enhance farm operations, bird health, and overall food security.