PROMOTING ORGANIC POULTRY VALUE CHAIN
FOR FOOD SECURITY IN EASTERN KENYA.
PRESENDENT BY:
EUNICE MUKAI PHILLES.
BENEAGROVET
P.O BOX 226-90300,
BACK GROUND
Meat from organic chicken – called ‘kuku kinyeji’ – are sought after
commodities in urban Markets in Kenya. ‘Kuku kienyeji’ are the
traditional semi-scavenging village chicken, found in every Rural
homestead. In some areas, including Makueni District, women are
becoming specialists in rearing Kuku kinyeji’. They keep between 500 and
1000.
The chickens are kept for the sole purpose of income generation. The
producers are quit Knowledgeable in many areas related to poultry
production, e.g. they grow a special kind of millet as a Supplementary for
chicken feed. While they are commercially oriented, they still lack some of
the Entrepreneurial skills required to plan and manage a rural business.
Especially marketing is a problem to them. They get very low farm-gate
prices, and they see traders and middle-men as exploiters. They Know that
‘kuku kinyeji’ fetches higher prices at the Nairobi market than ‘modern’
chicken (also called ‘Kuku kizungu‘.
WHY ORGANIC POULTRY FARMING IN EASTERN KENYA.
Among the livestock enterprises, organic poultry production is the
most widespread in eastern region. About 98% of all farm families
in this region keep organic chicken. There is very high potential in
rearing of organic poultry in this region despite the frequent poorly
distributed rainfall; drought tolerant crops do well which is used to
form the bulk ingredients in formation of chicken feeds.
Eastern region in Kenya is 87% ASAL and very marginal to
successful crops production. The area faces frequent rainfall failure
followed by prolonged dry spell. During this period it is difficult to
keep large stock and the surviving organic chicken becomes the
mitigating option for many farmers as they await relief food from
government and other agencies.
We therefore wish to collaborate with
farmers to promote organic poultry value
chain to enhance household incomes and
subsequently improve standards of living
for farmers. We hope to increase
productivity of this enterprise by 20%
and increase household incomes by 40%
by the end of four years.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the company is to ensure that
farmers practice organic farming which will be
free from the use of inorganic products.
Buy and slaughter farmers chicken at a better
price, supply the meat to the super markets and
any other outlet.
Address the health issues of the consumer and
the farmer while taking care of the environment.
GOAL
The main goal is to produce organic
chicken to meet market demand both at
domestic level and at international level
and to ensure that there is sustainable
production in order for both farmers and
company to get a fair share of the income
hence improve their livelihood.
OBJECTIVES
• By the year 2015, 90% of poultry farmers in
Eastern Kenya will have adopted organic
farming methods on large scale.
• Income increased to farmer by 40%.
• Establishment of organic value chain, financing
product to address issues of financial constrains
in organic business.
• Development of domestic and international
poultry organic markets.
ACTION AND MILESTONES.
To achieve the organic poultry production
in a large scale the following activities will
be undertaken over a period of three
years.
ACTIVITY
INDICATORS
TIME FRAME
TARGET
BY WHO
Cary out an
organic value
chain analysis.
Value chain
gaps and entry
points.
Sep 2011
Dec 2011
Actors in value
chain
Bene,
Selected group
leaders
Conduct
stakeholders for
information
dissemination.
80% of the
stakeholders
support the
implement 0f
project.
Feb 2012
Mar 2012
Key
stakeholders
Bene,
DVO
DLPO
Data collection
on target areas.
90% farms meet Mar 2o12
criteria
April 2012
500 farmers to
start
Bene,
DLPO
DVO
ACTIVITY
INDICATORS
Awareness,creati
on,and selection
of the identify
farmers to
collaborate with
company
TIME FRAME
TARGET
BY WHO
95% of the
April 2012
selected farmers
adopt the organic
farming method
480 farmers
Bene,
DLPO,
DVO
Development of
organic training
Manual for
farmers
100% of
June 2012
adoption of
Dec 2012
organic methods
Organic
production hand
book in place
Bene company,
ABD,
DLPO,
DVO
Monitoring and
evaluation
10% organic
poultry exported
and 90%
consumed in
domestic market
Sustainable
organic farming.
Bene company
June 2015,
Dec 2015
CRITERIA OF SUCCESES
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
To make all targeted farmers change completely to organic
farming.
Certification and standards marks acquired.
Organic Chicken exporters are able to sell their products.
Organic feeds company development and established research
institutions for organic products.
Farmers are getting premium prices.
Established contacts farming between farmers and buyers.
Established organic organization for lobbying and advocacy.
Market access to both international and national markets to be
consistent.
ASSUMPTIONS
• The SME and small holder’s farmers will
play their roles effectively.
• Government policies on organic farming
will be in force and remain favorable and
will be strengthened.
• Political stability will continue.
• Global economy will continue on its
recovery path.