RARDA trains farmers in poultry management

Rwamagana - Rwanda Animal Resources Development Authority (RARDA) yesterday concluded a three-day training of poultry farmers from the districts of Rwamagana, Bugesera, Gicumbi and Nyagatare. The training that was held in Rwamagana, attracted over 30 poultry farmers. Dr. Landry N. Mayigane, the Director of the National Hatchery in RARDA, said farmers needed skills and knowledge about housing management, management of chicks, feeds formalization and the economic benefits accrued. He said that the National Hatchery will resume distributing chicks to potential farmers by April 2011. “Framers will continue to be trained so that they get skills for safe poultry production. Our hatching machines have bigger capacity, and by April they will be producing between 90,000 and 100,000 chicks per month,” he said. “The farmers across the country should actually start registering to buy the chickens by February. We want potential farmers, to be acquainted with what it takes to handle chickens.” Eric Gatete, a technician at the hatchery, said that the farmers were equipped with skills, vital for efficient management of chickens, right from day one.The technician added that providing food in right proportions is essential for proper growth of the chickens. “We taught them how to mix foods, before feeding either broilers or layers. We have cobb-broilers from South Africa and Issa Brown-layers from the Netherlands that are very productive,” he said. Console Mukandayisenga, a poultry farmer, said that they gained much from the training and ready to re-stock their farms. She said that poultry farming can make quick bigger profits, compared to other types of farming. Ends