‘Commercialise indigenous poultry production’

14 Oct, 2016 - 01:10 0 Views
‘Commercialise indigenous  poultry production’

The ManicaPost

Blessing Rwizi: Post Correspondent
ZIMBABWE Free Range Poultry Producers Association has urged small-scale farmers in Manicaland to venture into commercialised indigenous poultry birds production for the betterment of their livelihoods.The Harare-headquartered organisation opened its first branch in Mutare in July this year, with the aim of improving livelihoods of farmers through promotion of sustainable free range poultry like road runners or indigenous chickens, ducks, turkeys, guinea fowl, geese and quails.

Farmers around the province have since responded positively to the idea of the lucrative business that can guarantee them good returns. ZFRPPA in conjunction with MetBank is supplying them with chicks, vaccines and feeds at affordable prices.

It is also educating farmers on how to keep the birds, egg hatching and create market linkages in a properly structured manner.

ZFRPPA Manicaland secretary, Mrs Ratidzai Chirau, said they were focusing on organic chickens commonly referred to as road runners. She said farmers could take advantage of the high demand that they have locally and abroad.

“Road runners are on very high demand internationally and farmers can take advantage of that to run profitable ventures. If we start producing them as a business, there is no doubt that our household income can be improved. The rise in demand for organic foods worldwide has been necessitated by concerns over health complications caused by genetically modified foods. In that case, we also advice members of the public to consume indigenous birds than imports,” said Mrs Chirau.

She added that Government was also in support of the traditional indigenous poultry production idea.

In an interview with one of the farmers who have taken up indigenous poultry birds production, Mr Kudakwashe Chitambo from Gudyanga area, he said the birds were cheap to rear as they also rely on food that they can pick up from the ground around the yard.

“I have started the commercialisation of ducks, road runners, turkeys, quails, geese and guinea fowls. They are very cheap to keep as they can rely on different kind of food that they pick from the ground at an early age. I have made good money over the past few months and I have secured market locally and in supermarkets around the province. I am urging people to engage in this venture as it is very profitable,” said Mr Chitambo.

ZFRPPA also have branches in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and Masving

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