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Farming Reporter
WITH the indigenous chickens popularly known as road-runners gaining popularity with most Zimbabweans, a new breed of urban chicken farmers has emerged.
A check at most houses in Mutare and its environs revealed that many residents have taken up indigenous chicken farming. While broilers are still proving to be popular following their flooding of the market resulting in very low prices with some birds being sold for as low as $5, indigenous chickens fetch higher prices, with a bird being sold for not less than $8.
At Sakubva market, the road- runners are fetching as much as $15, a lucrative price for anyone in that business.
A check at most food selling outlets revealed that most clients opt to have the road-runners as part of their meal especially during lunch hour. Having realised the growing market for the indigenous chickens, a Chitungwiza-based Fatherhood Peace Project has ventured into breeding of indigenous chicks which they are distributing nationwide.
The project has become popular especially in Manicaland, with more people pressing orders for the day-old chicks which are supplied with the starter stock-feed as well as chemicals. Those who opt for the project are also given free lectures on how to breed the chicks to have better rewards at the end.
The director of the project, Mr Wilson Chadambuka, said they realised that a few people were commercially breeding indigenous chickens and decided to move in to fill that gap and ensure that players in that sector have ready chicks for their projects.
“It is common knowledge that indigenous chicks take long to grow and reach maturity and many people tend to shun this lucrative venture. We collect eggs from indigenous hens and use the same modern hatching techniques to come up with the day old chicks.
“Our aim is to spread our wings to all corners of the country and help Zimbabweans even at household level to keep chickens not just for home consumption in terms of eggs and meat, but as a source to generate a reasonable income to their economic fortunes,” said Mr Chadambuka.
Mutare Senator, Senator Judith Mawire, who is co-ordinating the project, encouraged residents to take up indigenous chicken farming.
“As most people are aware that our new economic blueprint, Zim-Asset has a cluster on food security and nutrition, we should all play our part in implementing it. We should start at household level so that we ensure food security for the family.
“Indigenous chicken farming is not labour and capital intensive and I want to encourage people especially women to venture into this business. Gone are the days of waiting for the husband to be the sole breadwinner. We all have a role to play in ensuring that our children get the best out of us as their parents.
“Roadrunners are very nutritious and we should take a hint from President Mugabe who is always encouraging people to go back to our traditional foods. We should shun genetically modified food because they have an effect on our health.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank Fatherhood Peace Project for coming up with this noble project which will go a long way in transforming lives if well implemented. Roadrunners if well selected in terms of breed can br ing much more income, if not better than the broilers,” she said.
Advantages of indigenous breeds:
i) Indigenous chickens can be fed on home-made feed rations
ii) They can also be allowed to free range, therefore cutting down the amount of feed that the farmer has to give them.
iii) Unlike exotic breeds, indigenous are tolerant to many diseases, this reduces the veterinary costs.
iv) Although exotic breeds are more productive in terms of egg and meat production, the cost of managing them is a bigger challenge for farmers. This makes indigenous chickens much more attractive to keep.
Online Reporter