Poultry co-op to add value to farmers

Thika MP Patrick Wainaina (in cap) and his Gatundu North counterpart Wanjiku Kibe flanked by members of the newly registered Kiambu County Poultry Farmers’ Co-operative Society in Thika. [Kamau Maichuhie]

Poultry farmers in Kiambu County have formed a co-operative society they hope will help them solve the myriad of challenges facing the industry.

Speaking during the launch of Kiambu County Poultry Farmers’ Co-operative Society in Thika at the weekend, the farmers lamented how challenges facing them were pushing some to bankruptcy.

Founder member of the co-operative Zachary Waweru said they formed the group to address the common challenges key among them being lack of market for their products.

He said poultry farming in the country was doomed due to cheap imports of poultry products from neighbouring countries.

“Our co-operative will enable us speak in one voice as poultry farmers in the county. It will also help us to tackle our common challenges such as the high cost of production and availability of ready markets for our products,” said Mr Waweru.

The farmers cited influx of poor quality poultry feeds in the market that is sold at high prices as another challenge.

This they noted had affected production and quality of their eggs and meat.

They regretted ingredients used in some poultry feeds exposed their chicken to diseases and myriads of other health complications.

“We also suffer at the hands of middlemen who buy our products at throw away prices,” said Waweru

Thika Town MP Patrick Wainaina challenged the farmers to think outside the box and begin their own hatcheries, feeds manufacturing plants even slaughter houses.

Wainaina donated an incubator capable of hatching 1,000 chicks and promised to give them a feeds mixer once they started their own feeds manufacturing plant.