Day: November 1, 2021

Njihia Wambugu injected about Sh200, 000 in a poultry project one year ago, hoping it would make life easier during retirement.
But he was forced to sell all the birds and close the project after only eight months.
Wambugu used to collect 30 trays of eggs per week from 300 layers in January 2021, selling each at 300 and would earn about Sh 36,000 in a month from eggs alone.
But his joy was short-lived. Production reduced to 10 trays in the first week of June. A week later, he could only get five trays, and yet again some young birds also died.
“I lost over Sh150, 000 in the first three weeks of July. A veterinary doctor told me that the chicken had been fed on maize bran mixed with indigestible substances like sand,” Wambugu said.
His poultry house in Murinduko, Mwea East Sub County is now empty.
But Wambugu is not alone. Thousands of poultry farmers in Kirinyaga County are languishing in poverty due to losses arising from the incessant adulteration of animal feeds in the country.
The Kenya Bureau of Standards and Agriculture Ministry officials estimate that over 80 per cent of POULTRY feeds on the market is contaminated with substances like sand, ash and sawdust.
“Adulterated feeds can kill poultry and animals,” explains Dr Sabriano Mbae Mbauni of the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO).
“If they don’t cause death, they stunt the poultry’s growth, leading to low productivity and increase in disease burden, which more than doubles farm expenses,” he said.
Dr Mbauni says feed adulteration is widespread, but it is more pronounced in the areas that have a high concentration of poultry and dairy cattle, which includes Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Murang’a and others.
“The problem is made worse by the fact that most feed manufacturers, especially small-scale ones, lack basic training in animal nutrition and feed milling technology,” Dr Mbauni says.
“Feeds account for over 70 per cent of farm costs and, therefore, they have a significant effect on the farmers’ production costs and profits. No wonder, many farmers have abandoned the livestock business,” Dr Mbauni said
“Unless checked, feed adulteration will continue impeding the Government’s poverty alleviation plans,” he said.
Kenya’s animal feeds industry is private sector-led, but there is no clear legislation and institutional framework to guide and regulate it.
The government should come up with a policy that provides for the registration and licensing of feed manufacturers, importers and distributors and establishing an effective animal feeds inspectorate, but so far, no action has been taken in this direction.
Only recently, the County government of Kirinyaga took initiative by setting up a small animal feed factory at Kiaga.
The factory has supported many poultry farmers with quality feed for the Wezesha programme implemented by the county government.
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru says the factory will produce poultry, fish and other animal feeds and provide farmers with quality feed.
Dr Mbauni advises farmers to be vigilant and start on-farm feed mixing to get rid of the unscrupulous farm feed manufactures taking advantage of them.
He said they have trained farmers in Kiambu, Machakos and Kirinyaga on how to use the locally available materials in making up their chicken feeds.
The researcher said the project supported by the Korea Project on International Agriculture (KOPIA), is already posting positive outcomes.
He said the project entails training of the farmers on the use of the locally available resources in making their farm feeds.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Smallholder dairy farmers in Taita Taveta are already reaping the benefits of a partnership by the County administration, the National Government and the World Bank that targets to boost milk production in the county from 18 million litres to 30 million litres annually. The partnership under the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP), a joint project by the national government and the World Bank, aims to provide support to small-scale farmers through mobilization, training and operational expenses to increase their productivity and enhance supply of products.
Speaking during the handing over of modern milk equipment to Mwafuga Dairy Cooperative, County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation, Davis Mwangoma assured farmers the dedication of the county administration towards uplifting welfare of various dairy cooperatives in the county.
“My department will continue working closely with several development partners to uplift the welfare of farmers. We have initiated various programs like subsidised Artificial Insemination that has seen over 7,000 dairy farmers benefit,” he noted.
The Mwafuga group received two motorcycles, eight milk containers, two digital weighing machines and lactometers among other equipment. The consignment is part of the equipment that were flagged off last week Monday under the KCSAP programme to benefit different dairy cooperatives across the county.
Mwangoma also expressed confidence that new extension officers facilitated by the County administration will have a significant impact to the county’s potentially profitable dairy sector through sensitization of farmers.
Samuel Dwaluma – Chairperson of Mwafuga Dairy Cooperative hailed the county’s move to support them and encouraged farmers from highland areas in the county to put more focus on fodder to help supplement their dairy produce.
Many smallholder dairy farmers especially in remote areas face constraints that greatly affect milk delivery due to limited access to milk market outlets, poor rural infrastructure and limited access to veterinary and Artificial Insemination (AI) services.
The government recently instituted new regulations to boost the milk sub-sector by increasing production and protecting farmers from unfair trade practices. Such targeted development assistance to the smallholder dairy farmers is likely to translate into substantial benefits in terms of increased production, employment creation and improvement of livelihoods.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kenya and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in partnership with Equity Group have come together to organise and facilitate a 15-day Trade Mission to DRC from November 29 to December 13 as part of sustained efforts to promote regional trade and spur business growth.
The Trade Mission, which expects to attract over 200 investors and business participants from Kenya, and a similar number from DRC as well as the public, will include trade exhibitions, business forums, and site visits in four of DRC’s largest cities – Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma, and Mbuji Mayi.
Speaking today during the launch of the Trade Mission at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi, Ministry of Trade, Industrialisation and Enterprise Development Cabinet Secretary Betty Maina said DRC is the 6th leading export destination for Kenyan products in the world with agricultural and manufactured goods topping the list.
Dr Maina noted that the Trade Mission will strengthen service and product investment between the two nations.
“It will boost trade and development which in turn translates into an economic win for the region and the greater Sub-Saharan Africa,” stated Maina.
Speaking at the launch Second Secretary in the DRC Embassy in Kenya, Botuli Bosaw Geoffrey said that there is significant untapped potential in DRC given that they have a current population of over 100 million potential consumers, mineral resources, fertile agricultural land, and potential for political renewal.
“By empowering local SMEs and fostering foreign investment in the country, we shall awaken an economic giant and increase trade and investment inflows and outflows. We look forward to hosting the Kenyan delegation and will facilitate and support them during their 15 day trade mission in our country,” Botuli added.
Equity Group Managing Director and CEO James Mwangi said the inaugural Trade Mission to the DRC will encourage Kenyan private sector players to venture into the DRC by showing entrepreneurs the untapped opportunities within the market.
Dr Mwangi however commended both the Kenya and DRC governments for promoting regional integration and cooperation.
“We have Sh500 billion available to support and facilitate private sector and the business community to grow and expand their businesses in Kenya and the region. Equity has operated in DRC since 2015 and has grown to become the 2nd largest bank in DRC. We have gained enough experience in the six markets we operate in and the region to support businesses that are looking to venture into DRC and the larger East and Central Africa,” added Dr Mwangi.
Last week Equity Bank signed with Proparco two guarantee facilities, ARIZ and EURIZ totaling €39 million (Sh5 billion) to facilitate the Kenyan bank to further support MSMEs.
The key economic sectors targeted by the Trade Mission are agriculture, education, health, sports, and tourism. Others are environment, SME’s, housing, energy, and infrastructure development.
Kenya’s public and private sectors have been urged to register and participate in this opportunity through the link, http://equitygroupholdings.com/DRCTradeMission.
Equity Group, through Equity Bank Kenya and Equity BCDC, its DRC banking subsidiary, will support to facilitate the trade mission by mobilising SME entrepreneurs, championing the networking, and matching of local businesses to their counterparts in both the DRC and Kenya, and by coordinating the trade mission.
The mission aims at optimizing the opportunities availed by regional cooperation frameworks such as the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and to leverage trade corridors and create regional supply chains.

Source: Kenya News Agency