JKUAT clicks way to first indigenous poultry databank
Mr Philip Oyier (left), the poultry study app developer, with research assistant Simon Maina (right) and research scientist Sheila Ommeh during the interview at JKUAT. Photo | DIANA NGILA
What you need to know:
- JKUAT is studying mainly three birds: chicken, quails, and guinea fowl.
- The team is focusing on physical attributes and genetics of the birds.
- Study covers whole country on a digital platform. It seeks to have facts and figures online that will improve production.
Indigenous chickens that roam freely in homesteads are a favourite of many people on health grounds and taste.
Their meat and eggs are irresistible and are more expensive than products from the exotic types.
Despite these benefits, chicken farmers, mainly in rural areas, are faced with disease challenges that silently force them to close shop after incurring huge losses.
In addition, the low productivity of these poultry with regard to meat and egg yields hurts food security and income generation.
Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology (JKUAT), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, National Museums of Kenya and the Kenya Wildlife Service, has embarked on a research project using the latest technology to help the market understand poultry better.
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