Kenyan traders who have battled increased production costs, have been pushed across the borders to Uganda to buy cheaper eggs for consumption and re-sale in Kenya. As the cost of poultry feeds increased it forced many farmers interested in the egg business to go hunting for cheaper eggs.

In Kenya, layers mash goes for Ksh3,150 for a 70-kilogramme bag, an equivalent of Shs91,350 in Uganda, Kieveji mash retails at Ksh1,800 per 70 kilogramme, Sh52,200 in Uganda and chicken mash goes for KSh3,300 for the same capacity.

Maize husks are sold at Sh1,500 per 50-kilogramme sack, an equivalent of Shs43,500 in Uganda and remains from dagaa fish (omena) available at averagely KSh50 per kilogramme, Shs1450 in Uganda.

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GAMBIA – The Gambia Priority Employment Programme (GAMJOBS) on Wednesday, 16 November, organized a one day validation workshop at the Baobab Holiday Resort in Kololi on Value Chain Analyses of dairy and poultry industries in Gambia.

The objective of the value chain analyses is to assess the current situation of the dairy sub-sector and the poultry industry in a bid to identify constraints and opportunities for growth and development of the sub-sector and the industry with a view to promoting investment and employment opportunities particularly for women and the youth. The assessment proposes recommendations and priority actions to be implemented as well as outcomes to be monitored, according to AllAfrica.com.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Naffie Barry highlighted that the value chain analysis is coming at a time when Gambia is addressing unemployment and poverty through the auspices of the Gamjobs Project and the Programme for Accelerated Development and Growth (PAGE).

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SOUTH AFRICA – Local producers are calling for a reduction in poultry meat imports from Brazil, which are selling at lower prices.South African chicken producers have for the past few months complained that poultry imports, particularly from Brazil, have been killing their business.

According to Business Day, for producers such as Afgri, Astral Foods and Rainbow Chicken, the bottom line has taken a knock. The result is that a few producers and the industry body have teamed up to take action in the form of an antidumping case against Brazilian imports. They accuse Brazil of selling whole chickens cheaper in South Africa than in their home market.

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Around 50,000 poultry are to be vaccinated in the Likuyani District.

A Swiss-funded NGO has embarked on vaccinate of 50,000 chicken in Likuyani district, reports The Star of Nairobi. SCC-VI Agro Forestry, operating in Kitale, hopes to save farmers from losses caused by poultry diseases. The organisation has funded a community based organisation – Kongoni agricultural community – and is targeting 50 CBOs within the district.

The officer coordinating the project, George Wasike, said the exercise has commenced in Seregea, Soy, Likuyani and Mawe Tatu where over 2,500 poultry were vaccinated.

“We expect to have vaccinated over 15,000 birds in the district during the three-month long exercise,” he said.

Mr Wasike said the NGO was working together with the Ministry of Livestock and Development. He said the exercise was undertaken after farmers in the area complained of losing their poultry between May and November from treatable and preventable diseases. He said the exercise is the first in the area. He added that the poultry keepers will also be educated on the need to vaccinate their birds frequently to avoid losses.

Total broiler production for 2010 amounted to 969 million broilers or 1.3 million tons of meat, four per cent more than the 931 million broilers or 1.25 million tons of meat produced in 2009, according to the latest GAIN report from USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. In 2011, broiler production is expected to reach 980 million broilers or 1.315 million tons of meat, representing a one per cent increase from 2010.

Read the extended report HERE