Allow for yellow maize imports urge farmers
The Government should allow for importation of yellow maize to be used for chicken feed production and reduce competition for local maize, poultry producers have said.
They pointed out that there has been increased competition between livestock and humans for local maize, which has made feeds expensive.
Kenya Poultry Farmers Association (KEPOFA) said the cost of feeds has doubled since 2009, while that of eggs has slightly increased, forcing some farmers to abandon one of the country’s key sources of protein and income generation.
“The cost of feeds is going up without warning, while poultry product prices are not marching in this trend. We, therefore, need government to mitigate to reduce competition between human beings and livestock,” the chairperson of Kepofa, Mrs Wairimu Kariuki said.
Chicken feed accounts for 70 per cent of the total input cost, so if the feeds go up, input costs increase.
She was speaking in Kiambu, where players in the livestock industry celebrated the World Egg Day.
World Egg Day has been set aside to raise awareness on the benefits of eggs and celebrated in countries all around the world. In Kenya, the event was held at the Ndumberi Sports Ground in Kiambu.
