1. High performing local chicken selected,
genetic parameters known, selection
index established, 5% annual genetic
gain for egg and meat, 95% mortality
reduction;
2. 5000 rural women and youth poultry
farmers skilled to start marketable
production of indigenous chickens, using
locally available feedstuffs and
ethnopharmacopeia;
3. Community-based hatcheries producing
day old local chicks established;
4. 50000 day old local chicks transferred to
farmers, alongside subsidies for starting
phase;
5. 500 school children, hospital patients
and elderly persons receiving meat and
egg as feed supplement on daily basis.
Local chicken for health and wealth in western,
central and eastern Africa:
Exploring genetic potentials and strengthening the breeding
capacities for food security and poverty alleviation
Christian Keambou Tiambo2, Silvere Mboumba3, Richard Habimana4, Koffi Julius Hagan5
Celestine Bembide6, Hako Arnaud7, Haoua Mahamat8
Across Africa, local chicken is an asset for the most deprived rural populations, as a food security and poverty alleviation tool. Meat and eggs from local chicken
provide high quality protein and micronutrients. Their benefits are of outstanding significance to vulnerable groups such as growing children, pregnant and
breastfeeding women, diseased and elderly persons. It is posited that students eating healthy diets perform better at school, that nutritional cares improve pre and
post maternity cares, elderly and hospital patients’ recovery time and reduce their healing costs. The objectives of the project are (1) to improve local chicken flock
and productivity, (2) to build capacities of rural women and youth in sustainable local chicken production using locally available feed resources and ethno veterinary
medicine, and (3) to improve nutritional status of children, elderly and hospital patients. This project is based on a contract farming system involving 3 parties: the
project, the integrators (pilot local chicken farmers cooperatives) and the growers (women and youth). 75% of eggs and chicken acquired from the growers will be
processed for students in rural schools, hospital patients and elderly people, while 25% of fertile eggs will be destined to pilot hatcheries to supply new farmers. The
project will ensure training and adequate monitoring of farmers on the production and use of locally available resources for chicken feed formulation, as well as use of
local pharmacopeia for animal disease control. The project will also ensure complete immunization of flock through systematic vaccination campaigns.
1. BecA-ILRI Hub, PO Box 30709 Nairobi 00100 Kenya
BecA-Hub@cgiar.org
2. University of Buea, Cameroon
3. University of Science and Technology of Masuku,
Gabon.
4. University of Rwanda, Rwanda
5. University of Cape Coast, Ghana
6. Central African Institute of Agronomic Research
(ICRA), Central African Republic
7. Catholic University institute of Buea, Cameroon
8. University of Djamena, Tchad
Partner institutions: BecA-ILRI Hub, University of Buea, University of Science and Technology of Masuku, University of Rwanda, University of Cape Coast, Catholic University Institute of Buea, Central
African Institute of Agronomic Research, Catholic University Institute of Buea, University of Djamena
Funding: BecA-ILRI Hub
This document is licensed for use under a Creative Commons Attribution –Non commercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License February 2016
Project summary
Partnerships
Outputs
• Full time employment opportunities for
rural dwellers, manpower for rural sector
development and reduction of rural exodus
• Increased cash income per family and for
other value chain stakeholders, improved
food security and livelihood,
• Empowerment of women and youth, re-
investment of funds generated into other
agricultural, trade or social sectors,
• 10% annual progress in school
performances,
• Improvement in the nutritional status and
Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool
(MUST) of students, patients and elderly
persons,
• 25% reduction in time and cost spent in
hospitals.
Outcomes
• Development of fast income generation Commercial indigenous poultry industry.
Institutional support systems development as a strategy for sustainability
• Unlocking the demand and supply bottlenecks in the value chain, adequate
extension support, market development, use of locally available feedstuffs.
• Brokerage strategies activating scales, linking local chicken value chain stakeholders
to decision makers and to the market.
• Contract farming, Passing on the Gift (POG) contract and village-based hatcheries as
incentive strategy for new farmers recruitment, increasing flocks. Grouping farmers
into cooperatives for in situ mentoring within the community
Potential to scale-up
4kgs at sexual maturity (5.5 months)
In the local chicken the experimental breeding farm
Naked Neck:
Better local
layer