Kenchic on Monday opened a centre in Kiambu to offer poultry farmers technical support.
Kenchic managing director Jim Tozer said they are building a nationwide network to provide poultry farmers with day-old chicks, veterinary and other services.
The centre is located in Rironi in Limuru.
The company has opened similar centres in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri and Meru.
"Key functions of the poultry centres include providing essential poultry products that farmers need such as day-old chicks, feed, equipment, multi-vitamins, vaccines, disinfectants and technical assistance," Tozer told the Star.
He said data indicated that Kiambu county lost a significant number of chickens to Newcastle disease last year and hence farmers need help.
The centre will be run by a registered veterinary doctor specialising in chicken health.
It is expected to serve an estimated 6,000 poultry farmers in Kiambu, many of whom were affected by the disease outbreak last year, Tozer said.
The MD said the centre will administer vaccines to day-old chicks against Newcastle disease, infectious bursal disease or gumboro and Marek's disease.
“At Kenchic, we vaccinate every chick after hatching against these diseases. The new centre will play a social and economic role in rebuilding Kiambu’s poultry industry,” he said.
Tozer said the centre will provide vitamins to promote growth and equipment to ensure chickens get regular food and drink in sufficient quantities.
The staff will educate farmers on the space required to raise poultry to prevent them from becoming stressed. They will also be trained on how to protect their birds from weather, pests, wildlife and infections.
“Extension services are often overstretched, as budgets get tighter, but there will always be a technical representative at the centre who is fully trained to assist walk-in farmers at no additional costs. We are providing vets who will visit farms to resolve possible problems,” Tozer said.
Over the years, Kenchic has emerged as a leader in the poultry industry and the region’s leading supplier of day-old chicks. The firm applies the best agricultural practices to produce good quality eggs for hatching.
The Food and Agricultural Organisation has said the country needs to double its poultry output over the next three decades to keep up with the growing demand for chicken meat in the country.
Edited by A.N
