Pupils get chicken in campaign to empower them

By KENAN MIRUKA

Pupils get chicken in campaign

Kisii,Kenya:Kisii County An empowerment initiative to change the attitude of pupils towards agriculture using poultry has been launched in Kisii County.

Dubbed “One Hen Campaign”, the project seeks to inculcate entrepreneur skills among the young with the end aim of eradicating poverty in the community.

During the launch of the programme jointly sponsored by the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency and Innovation Empowerment Project (IEP), 70 pupils at Kebabe Primary School in Gucha South received a hen and a cage each.

The pupils in upper primary will rear the chicken as co-curricular activity and surrender two chicks, which will be given to other children in the school as part of the project.

Embrace agriculture

“The average age of a farmer in Kenya is 50 years. The aim of this project is to support and train kids to embrace agriculture and be responsible at personal and community level. By surrendering two chicks to their colleagues, the children learn the benefit of giving back to society and end selfishness,” said IEP CEO James Makini.

Beneficiaries will open an account with the Nyamira based Poultry Cooperative Sky Savings and Credit Cooperative, run by the project, and they will save a minimum of Sh20 per month. Parents and teachers will be trustees in the accounts.

“The children will save a minimum of one egg per month and the accumulated savings can be used as collateral to secure loans for investment after school. The chicken and eggs can be consumed improving the nutrition of poor households,” added Makini.

Etago Division Livestock Extension Officer David Achwoga said an indigenous breed of chicken can producebetween 90 and 100 chicks per year and therefore had potential to transform earnings for owners.

Kisii County Executive Committee member in charge of Agriculture, Vincent Sagwe, said the county government will provide funds for 1,000 hens and cages to be donated to primary school children.

“The county government is committed to supporting innovations meant to empower women and the youth. We have set up a science and technology park in collaboration with Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, United States International University and Kisii University to back innovations with research,” said Sagwe.