Zedekiah Ayoo of Buoye Block Poultry Farmers group feeds his chicken at his home in Kasipul constituency,Homa Bay County/Robert Omollo
The Kind Heart Organisation–Kenya has launched a programme aimed at increasing poultry production in villages across Kasipul Constituency, Homa Bay County.
The project, dubbed Empowering Rural Communities through Sustainable Chicken Rearing, will undertake activities expected to improve poultry production and strengthen the value chain.
Project Manager Yusuf Oduor and the organisation's director, Mark Nyasoro, said they initiated the programme after realising there was a shortage of chicken and eggs in the Nyanza region.
Oduor said they will construct poultry houses for farmers. Each standard poultry house will accommodate 500 birds.
The Kind Heart Organisation is working with three groups to implement the project.
They are Kawere East for persons with disabilities, Future Seeds Self-Help Group for youth, and Buoye Block Poultry Farmers.
"The houses are designed in a manner that promotes chicken brooding and protection. We want to increase chicken rearing in rural communities," Oduor said.
Empowering Rural Communities through Sustainable Chicken Rearing project manager Yusuf Oduor speaks during training of poultry farmers at Rawinji chief's camp in Kasipul constituency, Homa Bay County/Robert Omollo
He said the management skills will help reduce poultry deaths during production.
The farmers have also received training in savings and investment. They have been supplied with chick mash, layers mash and growers mash.
"The farmers will be provided with quality and nutritious feeds for the 12 months the project will run. We want to reduce poultry mortality in villages," he said.
The Kind Heart Organisation has also introduced a solar-powered brooding system, which is environmentally friendly.
Previously, farmers relied on charcoal for brooding.
Oduor said the organisation will use a digital system to monitor and evaluate the project's activities.
"The farmers have been registered with cooperative societies to enable them to access markets for their produce instead of selling birds individually. Kind Heart has come to help the groups improve poultry farming in Homa Bay," he added.
Nyasoro said the organisation's partnership with the Homa Bay County Government and other international organisations will ensure the sustainability of the project.
He said the farmers will establish a production unit where they will formulate their own feeds.
"We don't expect them to incur many losses because of the training they have undergone. Qualified veterinary officers will be assigned to provide medical services to the birds," Nyasoro said.
Beneficiaries Zedekiah Ayoo of Buoye Block and Brian Ochieng of Future Seeds Group expressed optimism that the project would improve poultry farming through the organisation's support.
Ayoo, who started poultry farming in 2004, said farmers have struggled to access quality feeds due to high costs.
He said he formulates his own feeds using maize, soya beans and omena.
He currently keeps 40 Sasso chickens, a breed reared for both meat and eggs.
"I have had a big challenge in getting feed because it is expensive. Most of the feeds I formulate lack minerals, but with the coming of Kind Heart Organisation things will be okay," Ayoo said.
Ochieng, whose group has 280 chickens, said they view the project as a source of employment that will improve their livelihoods. The group has 23 members.
"The group banks on regular vaccination and quality feeds to sustain production. I appeal to many of my fellow youth to venture into the business because of its economic benefits," Ochieng said.
