Vihiga: The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) has joined forces with the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) to introduce advanced poultry farming technologies to farmers in Vihiga County. This initiative is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of local farmers, thereby boosting the poultry sector in the region.
According to Kenya News Agency, Vihiga Deputy Governor Wilberforce Kitiezo noted that the initiative targets 104 participants. These include lead farmers, community-based facilitators, and agripreneurs involved in various value chains. He emphasized the potential for commercializing poultry farming due to its minimal space requirements compared to other agricultural enterprises. This is particularly relevant given the decreasing land sizes due to population growth.
Deputy Governor Kitiezo highlighted the importance of this training in equipping farmers with the necessary skills to make poultry farming a viable business. He also stressed that the knowledge gained by the trainees should be shared with other farmers, thereby expanding the reach and impact of the new technologies across the community.
The training program addresses key aspects such as on-farm feed formulation, disease and parasite control, breeding and selection, and establishing market linkages. These components are crucial for developing a sustainable and profitable poultry farming industry in Vihiga County.