THE country’s biggest day-old chicks producer Irvine’s is selling more than 400 000 day-old chicks per week to small poultry farmers, who produce more than 70% of poultry consumed in the country.
BY MTHANDAZO NYONI
This was revealed by the company’s broiler executive Martin Ndengu while handing over a demonstration fowl run in Bulawayo.
The facility, with a capacity of holding 2 500 chickens, is one of 12 chicken houses that the company is targeting to establish across the country’s various provinces.
Irvine’s in 2017 partnered with the government under the Command Livestock Agriculture programme and pledged to supply the first batch of 2 500 chicks, feed and drugs for each demonstration house in all the 10 provinces.
“We are aware that as the leading chicken and eggs producer in the country, we carry a huge responsibility on our shoulders,” Ndengu said.
“Every week, we sell more than 400 000 day-old chicks to small poultry farmers, who produce more than 70% of the poultry consumed in the country and we remain committed to poultry production including in marginalised rural areas in line with the government’s objective of developing a strong rural agricultural economy and the need for public-private partnerships.”
Ndengu said poultry farming had become one of the major income-generating projects in the country and a source of self-employment for women and youths due to its low capital requirements.
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He said: “Irvine’s shall play its role to ensure that local poultry farmers are equipped with the right knowledge for them to succeed.”
He said work at the majority of the centres had begun with most structures already done or at more than 70% complete.
“The chicken houses are part of Irvine’s long-term commitment towards the training of local farmers in poultry production,” Ndengu said.
“Every year, Irvine’s targets 20 000 people for training in modern poultry production.”
He said the facilities were expected to serve as demonstration centres of good chicken farming practices for locals to see and learn.
“This is why they are put at central places like schools because we want those who want to learn to come and leave with more poultry management skills,” he said.
Apart from Ntabeni Primary School, where the demonstration fowl run was unveiled, other targeted beneficiaries include colleges, vocational training centres and high schools.
The government urged the schools to maintain the 2 500 birds in all production cycles.
“This project should be able to empower the students and the community,” the government said in a statement.
“This should be a centre of excellence in commercial broiler production and take pride in the ownership of this project.”
