Profile of the Kondele Poultry Women Group
The Kondele Market Traders Women group was formed and registered in 1989 under the Ministry of Culture and Social services. Membership was drawn from informal traders in Kisumu city but a majority of them come from Kondele market. In 2005 the group ventured into poultry farming under the guidance of Science Product Centre (SPC), Kisumu.
During the post-election violence (2007/2008), Kondele was the epicentre of skirmishes where group members based in the area had their chicken looted and premises razed to the ground. This experience demoralised members to an extent that membership dropped from 45 to 12.
In 2008, the group was identified by the Partnership for Safe Poultry in Kenya (PSPK), among other groups in the Western/Nyanza regions of Kenya to be trained on biosecurity protocols.
One of the reasons why these regions were selected for biosecurity trainings is that they lie along the bird migration corridor and combined, constitute the highest population of poultry in Kenya.
After the training, the group adopted most of the biosecurity measures, which resulted in a drastic drop in mortality rates from over 33% to less than 5%. The biosecurity practices adopted include:
Periodic vaccinations: The group vaccinates their chicken as a group and vaccinates their neighbours’ chickens as well to keep poultry diseases out of the locality. Vaccines are transported in cool boxes that maintain the cold chain to ensure vaccine integrity.
Fencing of the compound: The group has undertaken this measure to prevent their chicken from coming into contact with other chicken from the neighbourhood as this is one way in which disease is transmitted.
Foot dips at farm gate: At the entrance of the farm and all chicken housing units, are foot baths filled with disinfectants. The poultry group is also keen on ensuring the disinfectants are changed periodically to maintain disinfectant integrity. Along with foot dips, anybody entering the farm is required to wash their hands at the entrance.
Isolation unit: The group has two isolation units, one of which is for new birds brought into the farm. These birds are held in the isolation unit for a period of one month during which they are vaccinated, dewormed and treated for any apparent diseases. The second isolation unit is used for any sick birds, which are already on the farm. Any sick bird is held in this isolation unit as they are being treated.
Proper housing units: The groups’ chicken are housed in proper housing units that meet animal welfare requirements of space, ventilation etc. This ensures that birds are not stressed and minimises pecking.
The group uses recommended feeds and waterers at their farm.
Control of internal and external parasites: The group implements a program for the control of both internal and external parasites. External parasites are controlled by periodic dusting with vermin control agents, while internal parasites are controlling by administering deworming drugs.
Balanced feed rations and potable water: The group also uses balanced ration and portable water to boost performance and enhance natural immunity thus augmenting bio security measures at the farm. They also compound their own feed and have a water tank.
Proper slaughter: In order to ensure consumer safety, the group slaughters their chicken at Mamboleo Municipal slaughter house. The chickens for slaughter are transported to Mamboleo slaughter facility in special crates, which help to reduce skin bruising and mortalities associated with transportation. At the slaughter house, the chicken are inspected by a government veterinarian and slaughtered humanely within halal specifications. The group later supplies the chicken meat to hotels, restaurants, funerals, weddings, etc.
According to Margaret Mirambe, the group chair person, after the adoption of biosecurity protocols, they are now making more money as they can supply at least 100 chickens per week compared to about 50 or less chickens they used to supply before. Some proceeds from chicken sales go into supporting 25 orphans and vulnerable children of deceased members through payment of school and college fees. Their poultry enterprise also provides employment to seven youths who get commissions from chicken supplies to clients.
Additionally, the women group offers biosecurity trainings to other farmers who visit them at the poultry farm.
