Kakamega farmers in rush to meet chicken, eggs demand

Silvester Imbusi, one of the residents who have now turned to large-scale poultry farming. [PHOTO: CHRISPEN SECHERE/STANDARD]

KAKAMEGA: A survey commissioned by the Kakamega County Government shows the county produces slightly more than 35 million eggs every year, compared to an annual demand of 170 million eggs.

The task force's report revealed the county imports eggs and chickens from as far as Central Kenya and neighbouring counties such as Uasin Gishu and Nandi, to meet its demand for chicken meat; which is a cherished delicacy in the area.

The situation has resulted in a sharp increase in eggs prices, with locals having to part with between Sh15 and Sh30 for eggs.

However, all is not lost as farmers in the county are now turning to poultry farming to cash in on the acute eggs and chickens' shortage in the region.

This is a marked change from the past where locals would rear one to ten chickens for domestic use only. More people are now embracing large-scale poultry farming.

Kisivuli Adika, 52, from Lugari is one such farmer. He rears broilers and indigenous chickens and supplies chicks and eggs to youths in as far as Central Kenya.

"I prefer to sell my produce to Central Kenya because the returns are better. For example, a tray of eggs in Central is Sh900 yet in Kakamega it is Sh300," Kisivuli said.

Sylvester Imbusi has also embraced poultry farming after quitting his job as a consultant and now supplies eggs and chickens to other farmers.

"I quit working because when I was employed, I was paid Sh12,000 per month yet today I earn Sh54,000 per month and can save Sh35,000 monthly," he said.

Geoffrey Otinga is another large-scale poultry farmer in Mautuma village and he makes about Sh6,000 a week by selling eggs only. He also offers training to farmers interested in venturing into the lucrative trade.

CHANGED FORTUNES

"Poultry farming has the capacity to change a family's fortunes. I have been able to take my daughter to university from returns made by selling some of my chickens and eggs,” Otinga said.

Otinga also revealed that through poultry farming, he and other farmers have started a financial savings group that offers loans to farmers to boost their production.

He said their efforts have not gone unnoticed since the Ministry of Devolution and Special Programmes has given them Sh5 million to start a poultry slaughterhouse.

"Apart from granting loans, the group also serves as a training ground for farmers on modern poultry production techniques to help boost production. We encourage more people to turn to poultry farming so that we can meet the demand that is bound to rise once the slaughterhouse is completed," he said.

Caroline Opati, a poultry farmer in Butere is also reaping big from poultry farming by concentrating on rearing indigenous breeds which she says mature faster and have a more readily available market.

WORTHWHILE VENTURE

She said in the past she has been rearing less than 10 chickens for domestic consumption but things have changed.

"We are finding that more and more people, especially in big hotels, have turned to local breeds as their favourite meal and this has boosted our trade. Unlike in the past where we would keep poultry for domestic consumption, we now see this as a worthwhile venture," Opati said.

Lugari animal production officer Zachary Mwaniki, confirmed Opati's sentiments, saying indigenous breeds have a higher nutritional value compared to other breeds.

While most are concentrating on rearing poultry, Willis Onyango has ventured into making of poultry feed using maize, cotton cakes, sunflower, omena, beans and bone mill.

He said the locally-made feed is in high demand.

"This poultry feed is cheaper and easily accessible to farmers because the ingredients we use are items found in our homes. This has made the product very popular among the poultry farmers," he said.