Smart farms

: 22 November 2018; Hits: 33935

Bidco introduces poultry feeds that reduce maturity period in kienyeji chicken, increasing yields

poultry chicken feed

Bidco Land O'Lakes, a joint venture business between Bidco Africa and US company Land O'Lakes has introduced into the Kenyan market four-phase feed specifically for indigenous chicken. This come at a time most farmers practicing traditional free range system reportedly rely on food leftovers to beat the rising production costs.

In a recent study by a team of researchers on Impact of Poultry Feed Price and Price Variability on Commercial Poultry Production in Murang'a County and published by IOSR Journal of Economics and Finance, about 40 per cent of Indigenous chicken farmers compound their own feeds but lack of in-depth knowledge on best ingredients and stages to introduce them to chicken still affecting the farmers’ yields.

Bidco poultry feeds which include Kienyeji Chick Mash, Kienyeji Growers Mash, Kienyeji Finisher Mash, and Kienyeji Layers Mash, are each aimed at different stages of indigenous chicken development and they are expected to substantially reduce the maturity period for kienyeji chicken as well as increase production.

According to Dr. Antony Kiragu, Bidco Africa’s poultry manager, the feeds are made of natural local ingredients in order to make the indigenous chicken maintain its taste, egg or meat colour and texture.

“The Bidco Kienyeji Feed is here to ensure that the farmer is purchasing the right feed that is aimed at a specific life stage of a bird for all his indigenous breeds,” said Kiragu.

The feeds which are already stocked by 30 per cent of the agrovets in Kenya are expected to specifically cater for indigenous chicken, which makes up for a big proportion of chicken consumed locally.

“The most recent poultry census in Kenya placed the number of chicken at 45 million. Out of this 34 million or 75 percent are indigenous chicken,” said Kiragu.

“However, so much emphasis, interest and value has been placed on the exotic breeds with little attention to the indigenous breeds."

KIENYEJI CHICK

This feed targets chicks that are from day old to 8 weeks of age. It is a complete chick feed that is high in protein and vital nutrients to ensure that your kienyeji chicks have a quickjump start to life, build strong immunity and good body development.

KIENYEJI GROWERS

This one is ideal for birds within the age of 8 to 20 weeks. Optimum nutrition geared towards the needs of a developing and growing bird. The growth ensures that the bird reaches maturity earlier- reproductive maturity for the laying birds to start laying eggs early as well as growth in size for the jogoos that are headed to the market for meat.

KIENYEJI LAYERS

This is a complete meal for laying birds at the age of 20 weeks and above. The feed is nutrient-rich in protein, calcium and other minerals that are important for a top laying kienyeji bird.

KIENYEJI MEAT/ FINISHER MASH

This feed contains natural ingredients required for the quick optimum growth rate for kienyeji birds reared for quality and tasty meat. Kienyeji Finisher diet ensures that the birds reach the desired market weight and size faster while staying lean.

RELATED ARTICLE: KALRO unveils super-yield indigenous chicken

Bidco Africa partnered with Land O’Lakes Inc in 2016, seeking to tap into the company’s expertise in feed technology and formulation, quality and comprehensive approach to animal health.

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Wednesday, 07 April 2021 [quote=Margaret Aoko]where can one find and buy these products? Price of package...

Wednesday, 07 April 2021 [quote=Nathan Matolo]Where can i get the feeds in kirinyaga?[/quote] Hi Nathan,...

Tuesday, 30 March 2021 Where can i get the feeds in kirinyaga?

Tuesday, 02 March 2021 where can one find and buy these products? Price of packages,pliz.Thanks in adva...

: 21 November 2018; Hits: 14280

A new cost-free method that increases sweet potato shelf-life for up to seven months

sweet potato harvest

Sweet potato farmers in Kenya can now store their produce for up to seven months using a new cost free method called curing. This comes at a time research is indicating that sweet potatoes are going bad within a week after harvesting.

This innovative way of increasing the freshness of the produce allows for more time for commercial farmers to access far-flung markets while improving food security for subsistence consumers.

Sweet potato is gaining popularity in the in the commercial sector with opportunities for value addition increasing profits for farmers and processors.

Dr Sammy Agili says curing reduces post-harvest losses, recovery of investment returns.

Dr Agili is the project agronomist for Scaling Up Sweet potato Through Agriculture and Nutrition (SUSTAIN), which is one of International Potato Centre (CIP)’s Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) projects in Western and Nyanza regions in Kenya.

He says the secret of prolonged freshness lies in the maintaining a firm and intact sweet potato skin. Injuries and bruises to the fragile skin accelerate rotting.

”Removal of foliage 14 days ahead of harvesting is the first step toward successful curing. Without the leaves, synthesis of food for the storage roots stops. This encourages hardening of the skin to minimize injuries during and after harvesting,” he says.

Use of oxen to plough out the roots from the ridges is preferred. Hoes and other sharp implements inflict cuttings and bruises on the skin, which will be entry points for destructive micro-organisms.

“In one to two hours after harvesting, the roots must be placed in a room with temperatures of 29 degrees Celcius and humidity of 90 per cent to 95 per cent for four to seven days. This encourages healing of minor wounds and ‘torn’ skin,” he said.

Locally, farmers can stack the sweetpotato in crates or wooden boxes before covering them with a polythene bag or cloth to increase humidity of the room. Humidity level will rise as a result of physiological processes like respiration in the tubes.

After the seven days, the harvest can be moved to a room of temperatures of about 15 degrees Celcius and low humidity.

The sweetpotatoes can be stored for up to seven months.

High temperatures will encourage sprouting, which will lead to more losses.

Timely harvest impacts successful curing. Harvesting must be done after the leaves have started turning yellow, which is an indication of maturity.

Early harvesting will lead to premature produce that will shrink and be of poor quality. Late harvesting encourages development of fibrous roots and attack from weevils, the agronomist says.

CIP’s five OFSP varieties-Kabonde, Vita, SPK 004 and Ejumla- mature between three and six months. They are rich in vitamin A- up to 14mg per 100g.

The organisation supplies vines for propagation of the varieties.

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: 21 November 2018; Hits: 14415

Kakamega farmer who abandoned cane farming for nuts has no regret

Daniel Mumia, 24, a farmer in Kakamega County does not regret quitting sugarcane growing to focus on groundnut and Bambara nuts farming, a venture that is now earning him steady triple income.

The farmer now earns approximately Sh752,000 per season from nut farming compared to Sh240,000 he used to take home from sugarcane farming.

“I quit sugarcane farming two years ago due to delayed payments for cane delivered to Mumias Sugar Company which owes me Sh240,000 for 80 tonnes of produce,” said Mumia.

Data from the agriculture ministry reveals that farmers who supplied cane to Mumias Sugar Company and have not been paid for two years are owed Sh889m, Sony Sugar Sh512m, Muhoroni-Miwani Sh474m, Chemelil Sugar Sh201m and Nzoia Sh524m.

“I decided to grow groundnut and Bambara nut farming by expanding the in initial two acre farm into a six acre farm which was previously occupied by sugarcane. The land was acquired from my father,” said Mumia.

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prince mumia

Daniel Mumia at his farm in Marungu, Kakamega County. Courtesy

The idea of venturing into nut farming was struck after his close friend shared the business idea which he liked and decided to give it a try.

In a season, the farmer harvests approximately 16 unshelled bags of groundnuts and up to 35 bags of Bambara nuts.

Once shelled the groundnuts reduce in volume to four bags which he sells at Sh13,000 per bag while Bambara nuts retails at Sh250 per kilo translating to Sh22,500 per 90kg bag at Matungu market.

“I thought it’s a good idea to try the Bambara nuts too, they used to be favorite dishes in the 90’s and early 2000 but currently even in the market it’s not easy to get them form the local shops because less people consume them an even plant them. It is resistant to high temperature and is suitable for marginal soils where other leguminous crops cannot be grown especially this region there are times when the temperatures are too high for other legumes”, added Daniel.

The crop has a nutritive value of 65 per cent carbohydrate and 18 per cent protein content. Due to its high protein value it is a very important legume that can be a good substitute to meat, yet it is still considered as one of the prioritized neglected and underutilized species in Africa.

Aside from diet enhancement and the rich proteins found in the nuts, the legumes also add nitrogen to the soil. For instance the soils in Kakamega region where most farmers were practicing sugarcane farming, most of the soils lack nitrogen. The nutrients in the nuts improve the soil which means a reduced need for fertilizers.

Compared to the cereals, the nuts have all the essential nutrients that a food needs and because of this, they help in the prevention of malnutrition and other health related complications like kwashiorkor and even rickets which are triggered by poor dieting.

“I want to change the usual eating narrative in the region, although the produce may not be as big as anticipated but having it available to the market means people will consume them alongside other meals. The nuts also help in reducing the effects of various health conditions such as anemia as it contains iron and other essential nutrients which boost the body's blood level,” said Mumia.

Consuming the nuts is also an advantage to consumers as it reduces the chances of getting cancer and other health issues because of the presence of antioxidants which protects the body from harmful food chemicals. The minerals contained in the Bambara nuts such as calcium protects the body from arthritis, osteoporosis and other related bone diseases.

However, compared to the maize, maintaining the legumes is affordable, the pests are minimal. On a maize plantation, it takes almost 50 kg of fertilizer per acre which costs Sh1800 but for the nuts, they require 40 to 50 kg’s of CAN and NPK and five litres of folia feed for all six acres.

The Nut Processors Association of Kenya reports that macadamia production in Kenya has increased fourfold since 2009 when Kenya produced 11,000 metric tonnes to the current 41,164 metric tonnes.

According to the Nuts and Oil Crops Directorate report of 2017, the value of the crop rose from Sh4.3bn in 2015 to Sh5.1bn in 2017 due to expansion of the global market.

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