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: 12 October 2017; Hits: 57602

Kukuchic Limited selling high quality Rainbow Rooster Kienyeji chicks

The high demand for indigenous chicken in the market has ensured Kukuchic limited has constant source of market for their Rainbow rooster chicks. The company is the breeder and distributor of Fast White Broiler and Rainbow Rooster birds in East Africa. Currently they have three breeder farms and a hatchery with more than 20,000 parent stock of rainbow rooster and a hatchery Capacity of 240,000 chicks per month. The company sells day old chicks at sh. 100 and one month old at 300 and 2 months old at 400 shillings.

One day old Kukuchic Limited chicks. PIC/JAPHET RUTO

“If you look at the market at the moment, there is a high demand for indigenous poultry but the supply is inadequate to meet the market demands” says Luka Cherop, Kukuchic, sales and marketing manager. Kukuchic seeks to breach the demand through production of an improved kienyeji rainbow rooster chicken which can be reared for both meat and eggs.

According to Luka, the rainbow rooster matures between 4 and 5 months, by that time the male will weigh about 3 kgs and the female 2 kgs. The female starts laying eggs at 5 months and will lay eggs continuously for 8 – 10 months giving between 160 and 180 eggs during the laying period.

“The advantage of this bird is that it suitable for free range with low technology input, it can feed on grass, sukuma wiki and tomatoes in addition to other commercially formulated feeds for chicken” says Luka.The chicken’s meat has low fat, is sweet and tender meaning it cooks faster than the traditional kienyeji chicken. It also has higher resistance against many poultry diseases.

Luka Cherop, Sales and Marketing Manager, Kukuchic Ltd, holding a mature 8 month old male rainbow rooster at the 2017 Nairobi International Trade Fair. PHOTO/JAPHET RUTO

Rainbow rooster farming can be done with low investment. It requires simple housing and a farmer can improvise drinkers and feeders using available materials e.g. plastic jericans. 1 to 4 weeks old chicks should be fed on chick mash at the rate of between 13 to 50 grams per day. 5 to 8 weeks old can be fed on growers mash or kienyeji mash at the rate of 50 to 70 grams per day in addition to free range roaming. Over 20 weeks old chicken can be fed on layers mash at the rate of 130 g per day.

Tips on management of day old chicks

Clean and disinfect the chicken house 2 weeks before arrival of the chicks.
The brooder should be ready 1 day before chicks arrive.
Warm the brooder 6 hours before arrival of chicks.
Ensure adequate drinkers and feeders are in place before arrival of chicks.
Remove the chicks from the boxes immediately they arrive.
Closely monitor the behavior of the chicks

Kukuchic has partnered with farmers groups in various Counties in Kenya like Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Siaya, Murang’a, Meru and Turkana amonst others to supply day old chicks to women and youth groups.

The company trains farmers before they purchase the chicks to ensure they are knowledgeable on the management of the birds. They also market farmers’ end products.

Luka Cherop can be reached on + 254 727 578 733.

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Monday, 06 July 2020 How much is a one crate full fertilized egg of rainbow rooster costing

Sunday, 04 March 2018 I bought Chic's from Kukuchic but they are not as strong as kenbro

: 11 October 2017; Hits: 10738

Cooperative Society helps farmers own land and Manage Agribusiness

E-farm, a housing cooperative society based in Nairobi is helping farmers own land, houses and manage agribusiness at subsidized rates. According to E-farm’s sales manager, Dinah Kathoni, the society provides affordable settlement and promotes agribusiness with an intention to add value to members land, supplement members’ income and create employment thereby enhancing food security.

The society has partnered with various organizations among them the Israel embassy which is coming with various technologies in agribusiness management and low cost houses construction.

“We seek to make agribusiness attractive and lucrative to the youth by using modern ICT systems to deliver and manage farming” said Kathoni whose organization was one of the exhibitors at the 2017 Nairobi International Trade Fair.

To register one has to buy 5 ordinary shares worth 1,000 each and pay 2,000 shillings registration fee. Once an interested person registers, he or she can buy a house or plot and sell the same within E-farm’s network at no extra charge according to their 360 marketing strategy. A member with shares is also entitled to dividends every financial year with preferential shareholders paid interests promptly (30% return on investment).

Members get free advice and consultation regarding investment by attending seminars and trainings at no charge. According to E-farm Chairman, Wallace Ngugi, more than half of Kenya’s arable land which is connected to water sources remains uncultivated. This he says poses a great challenge to the national food security.

“Our commitment is to activate idle parcels of land by involving members of the society and managing projects professionally, for now we are connecting our members to the food value chain that already has established value addition units like the sunflower and honey processing unit in Mwea” says Wallace in a statement.

According to Dinah Kathoni, the sales manager, farmers can own a share of sunflower and bee farm at 100,000 shillings and earn guaranteed 50,000 per annum for five years. Kathoni acknowledges that the society provides ready title deeds once land is purchased. For Ksh 500,000, a farmer can purchase a 1/8 acre of land with an already established greenhouse worth 250,000. With the greenhouse, one is guaranteed 300,000 every year with the society managing everything on the farmer’s behalf.

Kathoni says the society has contracted agronomists on site to help farmers identify best farming practices. E-farm has ready plots in Malindi- Lamu highway, Juja farm town, Ol Kalou plains, Mwea plains and Kithimani Yatta.

E-farm can be reached on +254 727 141 260

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: 10 October 2017; Hits: 10192

Former Police Officer Strikes Gold with Guatemala Grass

Evans Muugu, 63, is no ordinary farmer. The retired police officer has struck gold in Guatemala grass, an alternative fodder crop that withstands Napier stunt and head smut diseases. The fodder is fed to livestock to improve milk production.

Muugu retired in 1982 before working as a security guard in various city hotels in Nairobi including Safari Park & May Fair hotels. When Farmbiz Africa visited Evans who was one of the exhibitors at the 2017 Nairobi International Trade Fair, he had already sold his entire stock for the day making a profit 20,000 within half a day.

He started planting the grass in early 2000’s after being introduced to by a friend from Egerton University, Nakuru. With an initial 9 root splits, Evans planted the grass and has since expanded it to 2 acres of his farm where he propagates the grass for sale.

Evans Muugu (left), a Guatemala grass farmer at the 2017 Nairobi International Trade Fair at Jamhuri grounds, Nairobi. PHOTO/ZABLON OYUGI

“To plant the grass, you cut root splits to 20-30 cm and plant one root split per hole” says Evans. According to the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Production, you should apply either one soda bottle-top per hole (one bag TSP/DAP per acre) or 2 handfuls of farm yard manure/compost manure per hole at planting. The soil should be covered firmly.

Muugu has collaborated with Wambugu farm in Nyeri to propagate splits for farmers in that area. He sells 6 splits of the grass at Ksh. 100 making 15000 to 20000 on a good agricultural show. “The advantage of Guatemala grass, whose origin is believed to be India is that it is hairless and drought resistant, when overgrown there is no waste, as it doesn’t harden like Napier grass” said Evans. It also has high crude protein content and hence can enhance energy in livestock.

Muugu has 5 cows, 3 of which are lactating; each cow gives him an average of 25 liters per day. Initially without the Guatemala grass, he used to get an average of 15 liters per cow.

How to Manage Guatemala Grass

Weed whenever weeds appear
First harvest is at 3-4 months after planting
Harvest by cutting
Maintain a stubble height of 10 cm to encourage re-growth
Subsequently harvest at 6-8 weeks (11/2 to 2 months) intervals
After every 2^nd harvest, apply 2-3 bottle tops of CAN per stool or 2 bags per acre, or apply 2 handfuls of FYM/compost per stool (4 tonnes FYM/compost per acre)

How to utilize Guatemala grass

Well-managed Guatemala grass produces 5-7 tonnes of dry matter per acre in a year. This is enough to feed one dairy cow per year
Harvest and chop 2-3 cm pieces and feed them fresh to livestock
When plenty, make silage for dry season feeding

Advantages of Guatemala grass