Poultry and Fish farmers drawn from various farmer groups/cooperatives across Nandi County, were on 11th to 13th November 2021, treated to what they referred to as ‘An Eye-Opening experience’.
This is after learning modern/best agricultural techniques and progressive technologies practiced in Bungoma, Kakamega, Kisumu, Migori, and Homabay counties, and across the two value chains.
The farmers’ tour was made possible by the County Government of Nandi through the Agriculture Sector Development Support Programme (ASDSP II) and facilitated by extension officers led by director of Fisheries David Kemboi.
In Bungoma, the farmers visited the Shiffa Poultry processing facility before checking on activities at Chwele Fish hatchery. At Shiffa, the main objective of the visit was to learn about the value addition process and packaging of chicken for it to fetch better prices in the market while a fish hatchery visit was to see and learn about their Tilapia fingerlings, from breeding to grow out mature fish.
On the second day, farmers began their learning at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) – Non-Ruminant Research Institute – in Kakamega to better understand the production of both indigenous and improved Kienyeji chicken varieties, from incubation back to the egg.
At the institute’s farm, farmers were quickly taken through the various stages of production learning from the best about; feed formulation, eggs handling, incubation, brooding, housing, and biosecurity among others.
On the sidelines, the extension Officers had an opportunity to extensively exchange ideas regarding the poultry value chain with the Institute’s Director Dr. Joseph Munyasi.
From Kakamega, the team proceeded to Kisumu County for an engagement with members of Nyaidhorua poultry Self-Help-Group, who have federated to form KICOPE poultry Cooperative and currently aggregating demand for Chicken in Kisumu County.
The farmers would later wound-up day two in a high visiting a model farmer – Moses Obong’o who left his teaching profession to venture into agribusiness.
Obongo challenged the visiting farmers to embrace diversification while integrating Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) farming, showcasing how he is using by-products of some ventures as inputs for others resulting in low cost of production.
The Agro-ecology champion and a mentor who started his agribusiness venture in 2016 also rears chicken and ornamental birds including guinea fowl and ducks. Uniquely, he is also practicing Rabbit farming for the collection of urine. He uses urine as follia for vegetables. (Regenerative agriculture)
On Friday, farmers wrapped up the tour with visits to Rongo Aquaculture Mini-Fish Processing facility (Rio Fish/Opapo Market) and later Muga Fish farm in Migori and Homabay counties respectively.
At Rio Fish, the farmers were acquainted with knowledge on the various stages of fish value addition and marketing.
While at Muga’s farm, the host farmer (a former lecturer) showcased his creativeness, industry-leading efforts in hatchery techniques and fingerling production as well as his interventions on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA).
