Boost as Kiambu poultry farmers trained on feeds production, mixing

Poultry farmers in Kiambu County have received a major boost in their farming after an international firm began training them on feed production and mixing for improved yields.

The training, which the farmers termed as a shot in the arm, comes amid high feed prices in the country, a problem that has seen most farmers make little or no profit from their ventures.

The farmers from Kahero village in the Kikuyu constituency are the latest beneficiaries of the Korean Programme for International Co-operation in Agriculture Technology (KOPIA) which seeks to address challenges related to low productivity through enhanced agricultural output.

The initiative seeks to help farmers generate affordable quality feed recipes for poultry from locally available ingredients with the potential to be a game changer for struggling poultry farmers.

According to KOPIA Kenya Director Dr. Ji Gang Kim, the initiative will see the women and men groups manufacture their poultry feeds and sell the surplus to local farmers.

This, he said, will enable them to eke high proceeds from their farming and feed-making venture.

Kim noted that KOPIA has been training farmers on the need for the adoption of modern farming technologies and the commercialization of harvests to increase their incomes.

“We will also be assisting the farmers to integrate their farming with modern and advanced technologies, such as improved hatcheries for better poultry rearing and upgraded crop-farming systems, the farmers' performance and profitability will be enhanced,” he said during the training at Ng’amba village.

He revealed that following the training, farmers will now be able to access a variety of feeds including layers’ mash, chick mash and growers mash, a boost to their poultry farming venture.

“We are also training them on how to deal with poultry diseases for reduced losses. With the training, we hope to equip them with the requisite knowledge and skills that will enable them to produce more, thereby enhancing their proceeds for better livelihoods,” he said.

Farmers led by John Kuria welcomed the training saying that it will turn around their fortunes as they will be able to cut production costs.

Kuria said that most farmers have already quit farming due to the high cost of production including expensive and low-quality feeds.

“With this training, we are now optimistic of becoming successful breeders and suppliers of improved indigenous chickens, which now fetch good prices in the market,” he said.

With the initiative that helps them develop locally customized farming technologies, the farmers noted that the training in feed formulation and mixing for small-scale feed producers offers a promising alternative to traditional farming methods.

Farmer Joyce Nyaruiru said that poultry farming, a crucial venture for their economic sustainability and enhanced food security, should be supported by the government to eradicate poverty in the villages.

They particularly called on the government to provide them with enough capital to enhance poultry production for better outcomes.

“We now have the knowledge and the capacity to eradicate poverty through poultry farming. We however need more financial support from the government to facilitate our growth,” Nyaruiru said.