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Indigenous chicken production in Kenya: II. Prospects for research and development

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

T.M. MAGOTHE ,
T.O. OKENO ,
W.B. MUHUYI  and
A.K. KAHI
T.M. MAGOTHE
Affiliation:
Animal Breeding and Genetics Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University, PO Box 536, 20115 Egerton, Kenya Ministry of Livestock Development, Livestock Recording Centre, PO Box 257, 20117 Naivasha, Kenya
T.O. OKENO
Affiliation:
Animal Breeding and Genetics Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University, PO Box 536, 20115 Egerton, Kenya Institute of Animal Breeding in the Tropics and Sub-Tropics, Humboldt University of Berlin, Philippstraße 13, 10115 Berlin, Germany
W.B. MUHUYI
Affiliation:
National Beef Research Centre, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, PO Box 3840, 20100 Nakuru, Kenya
A.K. KAHI*
Affiliation:
Animal Breeding and Genetics Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University, PO Box 536, 20115 Egerton, Kenya
*
Corresponding author: a.kahi@incip.org
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Abstract

Poultry production and in particular indigenous chicken (IC) production has been recognised as an avenue to improve livelihoods of the rural households. Previous attempts to improve their productivity have had little success due to, among others, lack of a holistic approach in solving the constraints and dissemination of inappropriate technologies given the production circumstances and market dynamics. Marketing as a constraint is often blamed for the failure of interventions to improve livelihoods, despite lack of saturation for IC products at local and national levels and the increasing demand for the same. This paper highlights the past improvement attempts and suggests strategies to improve IC productivity and thereby improve the livelihood of the rural households which are the custodians of these genetic resources. It is concluded that there is potential for improvement of IC production in Kenya given the available genetic and physical resources. However, a holistic strategy that increases productivity without increasing production costs or leading to loss of biodiversity must be developed. Such a strategy must take into account the various uses of the IC in a rural household.

Keywords

indigenous chicken productionproduction constraintsresearch and developmentKenya
Type
Small-Scale Family Poultry Production
Information
World's Poultry Science Journal , Volume 68 , Issue 1 , March 2012 , pp. 133 - 144
Copyright
Copyright © World's Poultry Science Association 2012

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