Farmers Review Africa Sept/Oct 2019 Farmers Review Africa September - October 2019 dig | Page 38

POULTRY AFRICA in those countries are already prohibitive given the fact that large sections of the population live on less than $2 a day. Chicken prices range from $5 to $8 a kilo. The challenge now is finding ways to increase production while competing with imports. Poultry production challenges At face value the situation looks like an opportunity for entrepreneurs to align production with the rising demand. The challenge, however, is more deep-rooted. The factors (such as poor infrastructure, low investment in research, limited technical training and a lack of farm incentives) limiting poultry production are similar to those affecting the rest of the agricultural system. In fact, countries with more advanced agricultural sectors such as South Africa, Egypt and Morocco are the ones that lead the continent in poultry production. • • The lack of starter stock (chicks and broilers bred specifically for meat production). Improvements in this area will require better breeding and extension programs akin to those needed for crops. Nearly 84% of chicken in Kenya is based on local breeds that have low levels of efficiency in converting feed into meat. Disease control. The most common threat to chickens is Newcastle disease. But the frightening spectrum of new infectious diseases calls for more investment in The solution to Africa’s chicken crisis lies in upgrading agricultural systems overall. Here are the major limitations: • Low-cost, high-quality feed. Expanding feed production involves investing in grain production, especially corn and soya. Research to increase efficiency and expand the range of feed sources will go a long way in helping to upgrade overall system. • • • livestock diseases in general and chicken diseases in particular. Disease control is a problem for both crop and livestock producers. Poor infrastructure (especially energy, transportation and water supply systems) is a major barrier to the expansion of chicken production, especially in rural areas. A lack of cold storage facilities forces farmers to keep feeding their chickens instead of slaughtering and refrigerating them. They generally transport live chickens to markets, which raises logistical costs and increases concerns over disease transmission. The lack of credit for producers. Countries that provide credit for crop producers to purchase seed and farm input have the opportunity to extend their incentives to chicken production. Most African countries lack such systems and it is unlikely that they will introduce them for poultry farming if they do not have them for crop production. So far Africa can hardly feed its people. But even worse, it cannot feed its chickens so that it can feed its people. The chicken crisis is yet another reason why Africa must focus on getting its agricultural act together. The crisis is a warning to African leaders: they need to wake up with the chickens and act in time. Advertiser’s index TO ADVERTISE IN FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA CALL: [phone] | Email: [email protected] AGCO.....................................................................................................02 Keller SA................................................................................................23 Chaparro..................................................................................................8 KSB Pumps & Valves........................................................................OBC Farm4trade............................................................................................21 Fertilux....................................................................................................11 Growtech…..........................................................................................IFC Humic Harvest .......................................................................................19 Plasson Poulty ......................................................................................32 Poultry Africa 2019................................................................................27 RJ Obrien................................................................................................28 Impex......................................................................................................31 Tomra .....................................................................................................16 Irrigation Show....................................................................................IBC Uralkali...................................................................................................29 July - August 2019 36 | September - October 2019