Bill Gates gives big nod to chicken farming

Chicken are enjoying global limelight. Few weeks ago American business magnate Bill Gates, speaking in front of chickens pecking and clucking in a New York City skyscraper requested well-wishers to join him in donating 100,000 chicks to poor nations to end extreme poverty. That goal was achieved in record time. The chicks will go to rural areas in two dozen developing countries from Burkina Faso to Bolivia.

To give this issue context, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) says poultry represent about 30 per cent of agriculture’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In 2015, Kenya’s GDP was US$70 billion. Of this, agriculture contributed 30 per cent. If we extrapolate FAO figures, the contribution by the poultry industry is a whooping US$6.3 billion.

Ministry of Livestock Development indicates that annual chicken meat production (8,600 tonnes) is valued at Sh 3.5 billion and eggs at Sh9.7 billion, a total of Sh13.2 billion. Based on the FAO guidelines, this figure may not include all economic activities such as value addition, back and forward linkages.

For Africa’s drylands, otherwise referred to as the Arid and Semi Arid Lands (ASALs), the opportunity of chicken or poultry farming is probably significantly under-estimated, especially when one considers the utilisation of locally produced feed. Africa Harvest estimates that production cost on commercial feed is as high as 70 per cent.

However, our experience is that when farmers combine the use of high-value grains like sorghum, cowpeas and green grams, they reduce production cost to 30per cent, thereby unlocking significant value and increasing profit margins.

This is why Africa Harvest has worked with local jua kali fabricators to develop diesel-driven machines that can use sorghum as a key ingredient to make chicken feed. We have also worked with animal nutritionists to develop wholesome chicken feed that includes sorghum. Working with feed manufacturers, Africa Harvest estimates the feed market value at 850,000metric tonnes annually.

One of Africa Harvest’s projects, the Food Security and Ecosystem Management for Sustainable Livelihoods in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands of Kenya (FOSEMS) - funded by the Italian Development Cooperation – helped farmers in Makueni County access improved varieties of chicken. Two varieties were selected, Karlo kienyeji and Kenbro (from Kenchic).

This intervention presents a unique opportunity for gender-sensitive inclusive development, with particular emphasis on youth and women. In most Kenyan communities, rearing chicken is seen as a women’s job. Africa Harvest experience is that when you empower women, the family nutrition is improved through availability of chicken meat and eggs.

Africa Harvest’s interest is ensuring efficiency in the chicken value chain; by being first in the value chain, women help lay a firm foundation for the entire chain and help tilt ensuing benefits to smallholder farmers. Leveraging on collaboration among various stakeholders, the FOSEMS project sought to increase competitiveness in poultry production and marketing of poultry products.

A total of 18,736 households organised in 80 farmer groups received over 4,000 improved, one-day old Kenbro chicks to increase production of eggs and meat but also improve their local breeds.

The farmers – especially the women and youth — were trained in basic but intensive management of their chicken enterprise. They also learnt how to access Uwezo and Youth funds.

Minimal start-up capital, day-old chicks, solar incubators and mechanical feed grinders were provided to the groups to help rump up production. This also fast-tracked the farmers to become effective members of Africa Harvest’s “Aggregator Model,” which is a process innovation that focuses on streamlining access to both production and marketing requirements.

Africa Harvest’s work confirms that raising and selling chickens can lift families out of poverty. Gates is spot-on when he says: “There’s no investment that has a return percentage anything like being able to breed chickens.”

The writer is a plant pathologist and virologist. She is the CEO of Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation International. She has for over 30 years experience in agricultural research.