Tropical Poultry Genetic Solution project is being implemented in several research and development activities. Part of the project outputs include developing an innovative data driven, understanding of several chicken strains and their dua purpose lines for their productivity, survival and farmer preference in the different parts of Kenya.
The strains are ;Redja, Rirja, Kuroiler and KALRO. The program vision was for small holders and semi commercial poultry to become an evidence-led productive remunerative and sustainable business that equitably creates wealth for poultry keepers and other actors in the value chains.
Farmers preferred REDJA strain because of both male and female body size,egg size and large body weight, as well as fast growth rate. Their egg number were more and they laid longer.
Kuroiler was second since their growth rate was fast. They started laying 16th week of age. The challenge is that their survival rate was low.
The third breed was KALRO.They adapted to the environment well, they were low feeders thus survived by scavenging. They were resistant to diseases.
The project isn’t without Challenges:
Farmers had inadequate resources like capital, poultry structures.
There were cases of theft of the birds. Some farmers did not vaccinate their birds on time thus died due to diseases.
There are success stories as well.
Farmers were able to sale their cocks at the age of 22 weeks at a cost of ksh.1000. Poultry droppings are also sold as manure at ksh. 400, while some used the manure to improve soil fertility. A group bought an incubator capacity 0f 528 eggs due to availability of eggs and ready market for chicks. Some sold birds and bought goats while others paid school fees. Some farmers increased their flocks as a sustainable economic project.
This is an ongoing project that we can boldly term a success and we are happy for our heroic farmers!!!
