Value chain analysis of native chicken in the northwest and southwest Bangladesh
Abstract:
Many consumers prefer native chicken to commercial broilers because of its unique taste, distinct flavor and texture, lower fat content, and presence of nutrients. Native chicken rearing is one of the women-friendly household enterprises where women are involved from production to sale operation. In Bangladesh?Sonali?(a cross-breed)?and native chicken are almost similar to look at. So, it is difficult for a consumer to identify genuine native chicken. There are three genotypes of the native chicken namely naked neck (NN), Hilly (H), and Non-descript Desi(ND).
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Researches showed that the hill genotype is a better meat producer.?Kazaa?a wild breed similar to the hill genotype available around the Sundarban is also a good breed. Poultry production in Bangladesh is dominated by native chicken (80% of the total chicken population). The approximate household demand for chicken is 2.5 kg/month which is mainly supplied by broiler chicken (16 lakh MT in 2016, DLS) as production of native chicken is low (2 lakh MT in 2016, DLS; 11%). End markets of native chicken are district and national markets at Dhaka. Apart from the producer and consumer three main market actors of this value chain are broker or locally called?Foriya, small trader, traders or locally called?Mohajon, and?retailer.?On an average monthly earning of a producer is BDT 1,500 to 2,000 followed by small trader BDT 3,000 to 4,000; big trader BDT 24,000 to 28,000; and retailer BDT 8,000 to 12,000. Findings show that big traders and retailers are powerful market actors who exploit better benefits.
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There is no appropriate credit service for native chicken producers considering their time of return on investment. A similar challenge faces by brokers and traders. However, meat production and consumption of native chicken slowly increased mainly due to high demand. Supply of native chicken not increased due to lack of appropriate model and hatchery for adequate chick supply. The scavenging production model (model-A in this article) of folk of 10 hens and a cock not successful because of high mortality, require about six months to start. Practical Action developed an innovative stall-feed semi-scavenging model (model-B) which is easy to implement and has low mortality. Inadequate supply of native chicks is a main constrain for model B. To increase the production of chicks, hatcheries could identify or develop good brooders and have a contractual arrangement to produce quality eggs and supply them to the hatchery at a premium price. Very little attention of government was observed in both formulation and implementation of policies for the development of this sector. Vaccination and advisory service of the department of livestock services (DLS) were found inadequate. Since private livestock health service providers are unskilled, training is essential to reduce the risk of mortality. The appropriate financial product should be developed by banks and MFIs for the brooder, hatchery, producer, and trader. The supply chain of quality manufactured feed should be developed by feed companies and adequate vaccine by DLS. Before establishing enterprises in the value chain brooder, hatchery technician and producer should be provided adequate training.????
1. Introduction:?
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Native chicken plays a major role for the rural poor and marginalized section of the people for their subsidiary income and also provide them with nutritious chicken egg and meat for their consumption. The performance of native fowl can be improved by a change in husbandry, feeding, and better health cover. One of the most important positive characters of native chickens is their hardiness, which is the ability to tolerate the harsh environmental condition and poor husbandry practices (climate, handling, watering, and feeding) without much loss in production. Many consumers prefer native chicken to commercial broilers because of its unique taste, distinct flavor, and texture, lower fat content, and presence of nutrients. However, the Policy and practice of the government of Bangladesh reflected little attention on the development of this value chain.?
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In Bangladesh Sonali?(a cross-breed)?and native chicken are almost similar to look at. Therefore it is difficult for a consumer to identify actual native chicken. Most of the time traders are buying both?Sonali?and native chicken together and pay the price of?Sonali?(low price) they short after buying or sometimes sell both in the name of native chicken to have a good price. As a result, producers are not receiving a good price for native chicken and consumers are sometimes buying a mix of both chickens by paying the price of native chicken. Practical Action developed a billboard by explaining the difference between?Sonali?and native chicken for raising consumer awareness in the northwest. According to the billboard, the main difference between native chicken and Sonali is- native chicken is an energetic bird, can run fast, create a huge nose, body hard, temperature normal, and many dividers visible on legs. On the other hand, Sonali chickens are less energetic, run slow, less noisy, soft, and warm body and almost no divider on legs. Consumer awareness at the district level is a good beginning that could be expanded at the national level.
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Types of normal native chickens are naked neck, Long leg, Crown chicken (Crown), Frizzled feathered, Aseel, and Fayoumi were common in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. The Naked neck ecotypes do not have feathers in the neck area. The Long leg ecotypes have longer legs than usual. The Crown chickens have feathered combs whereas the Frizzled feathered have plumage feathers that are curled and abnormal. The Aseel has a compact body shape, heavy in size, small pea comb, fatty shanks, and longspurs. The Fayoumi is white and black in appearance and small in size.
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Typical functions of native chicken production are as follows: purchase native chicks or hen from market or community, prepare shed, clean shed, provide treatment, egg collection, chicks production, and rear, feeding broken rice, rice bran, and rice or purchase these from the local market, consuming chickens and selling any surplus after consumption at the farm gate or local hat or Bazar.
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Two studies have been done by a market expert team of Practical Action at different times (northwest in 2011 and southwest in 2017) mainly for program development. I have an opportunity to lead both the study. Major findings of those studies including secondary data are furnished below:??
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Statistics show that about 2.9% of the national GDP is covered by the livestock sector, and its annual rate of growth is 5.5%. About 20% of the population of Bangladesh earns their livelihood through work associated with raising cattle and poultry ( Banglapedia, 2015). About 89% of the rural livestock-holders rear chickens and the average number per household is 10. Meat consumption in Bangladesh is low compared to countries of similar economic development, but there is a growing demand among the expanding urban population. It is estimated that there are about 140 million chickens and 13 million ducks in the total poultry population. Poultry production in Bangladesh is dominated by native chickens. About 20% of the protein consumed in Bangladesh originates from poultry and native chickens constitute nearly 80% of the total chicken population (DLS 1998). The approximate household regular demand for native chicken is 2.5 kg /month.
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In?northwest?districts around 4,000 farming households in each union rear native chicken at the homestead. Surprisingly, no large-scale commercial native chicken farm was found in these areas. Approximately 300 million native chickens are produced by households in the northwest districts. Around 60% of the local product sold at the local market. The rest is supplied to the end market at Dhaka, mostly Mohammadpur. It serves around 40% of the demand of Mohammadpur end market; the rest is served by Sonali and Pakistani breed gathered from different parts of the country.
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In the?southwest, the main end markets are local Hats, district markets like Jessore, Khulna, and the national market at Dhaka. Buyers of the native chicken are local consumers,?Forias or?collectors, traders at Upazila level, wholesalers at district, regional or divisional (consist of two or more districts), and national market. Producer sales their chickens to the local hats/Bazar to local customers and collectors or locally called?Foria, mobile traders (who move from farm to farm to collect chickens) than the chicken supplied to the district, regional market, and national market through wholesalers. Estimated around 400 collectors, 80 traders ( Upzila or sub-district level ), and 55 wholesalers ( Khulna and Jessore) available in the southwest. The producers sell around 18% chicken to the local customers and 82 % sell in local Hat and collectors at the local Hat. Around 43% of total production supply district, regional and national market through collectors, traders and whole sellers. As per the trader's opinion, there is a huge demand in the district and national market.??
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A very distinctive feature of native chicken demand in Bangladesh is the seasonal variation in consumption. Around 30 – 40% of all native chicken is consumed in four Bangla months (Falgun, Chitra, Boisak, and Joistha) when festivals and weddings are usually held, especially for most poor rural households. Indeed, these are the only time in the year when they consume native chicken while being invited by their rich neighbors or relatives. Poor households of Bangladesh usually prefer to consume poultry chicken which is almost half price compare with native chicken.
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Apart from the producers and consumers, three different market actors exist, namely- brokers or locally called?Fariya, big traders or?Mahajan, and retailers.
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a. Producer:?
In the?northwest a few households rear?Sonali. On average, one household keeps 10-15 birds at a time. Birds become 1 kg size within 5-6 months and are ready for sale. Native chickens are usually reared in the open rearing method, where the birds usually feed themselves by moving to and fro in the nearby ground and the crop fields. Producers sell their chicken to local brokers/collectors when the bird becomes on average 500-800 grams. Farmgate prices depend on the seasonality. Usually, a live chicken of 1 kg size is from BDT 250-280.
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In the?southwest, 85% of producers are involved in native chicken production. Producers purchase small chicken and rear after around 600 -800 grams they sold it to local consumers or collectors in the local market. Sometimes they wait for egg and hatch traditionally for increasing chicken. Their production cycle is around 6-8 months. They are selling both chicken and egg.
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b. Local broker /collector-?Fariya:
In the?northwest, nearby markets close to the community ( e.g. Chakgouri Bazar of Mohadebpur and Birganj Bazar of Takurgaon Sadar) farmers have the access to clients directly. However, most of the sales were made through the local brokers who earn a commission from the chicken producer around 20-40 BDT per chicken. In the?southwest, local level?Foriya?or collectors were collecting native chicken from the local Hat/Bazar and occasionally they collect it from farmgate and sell it to small traders and wholesalers locally called?Arothder. Around 4,000 collectors were available in the assessment areas who were not sharing any information about price and quality with the producers. They are earning benefits around BDT 20/Kg.
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c. Small Traders :?
In the?southwest, small traders are purchasing from the collectors or producers at Upzilla ( sub-district) level market and sold to Upazila level consumers and wholesalers locally called?Arothder?at Khulna, Jessore, and Mongla. Around 130 small traders are available in the assessment areas. They are earning profits around BDT 20/Kg. There are no such small traders in the?northwest.
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d. Large Trader
In the southwest, large traders are called wholesalers (Arotder). Wholesalers were purchasing native chicken from the small traders, bulking and selling it to the district level retailer, and a portion they packaged in a bamboo cage and supply national level wholesaler in Dhaka who sell to the retailer and supper shop at Dhaka. These wholesalers are commission agents.
In northwest large traders locally known as Mohazan, travel from Upazila and district to national level (Dhaka) markets. They supply native chicken twice a week to national markets. Brokers who collect chicken from the community, supply to large traders at BDT 20-40 / chicken. Around 30-50 large traders were operating in each targeted district. Typically, large traders purchase or collect 600 chickens each week and supply it to Dhaka in two trips. These products are transported by trucks or mini trucks to retailers in Dhaka. The business is managed with comparatively medium-size capital i.e approximately BDT 400,000-600,000. Considering all costs, the large trader earns on an average of 3000-3500 per trip.
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6. Input supply and services:
In the?northwest, producers lack the required skill and knowledge to rear a healthy and quality chicken. The government livestock officers are expected to provide the vaccine, health service, regular advice, and training on advanced rearing practices. The study found these government services inadequate. Banks and microfinance institutions, do not consider small-scale producers as potential clients because of the high operation cost. Moreover, for native chicken, weekly microcredit services are not appropriate, initially, they need a 4-6 month’s grace period, because business return takes a much longer time. There is no appropriate loan for native chicken producers considering the time of return on investment.
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In the?southwest, the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) and local Livestock Health Service Providers (LHSP) play as treatment, vaccination, and advice service provider. According to DLS, they have offices at Upazila level from where expert provides treatment, vaccination and advisory services to the livestock producer. Due to shortage of manpower DLS assign vaccinator cum LHGSP at each union who seat at the Union Parishad office complex and providing treatment services. But DLS can provide services to 50% of producers (Source-interview with DLS). The study found that there are 5 to 6 private LHSP available at the Union level were providing low-quality services base on call.
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7. Business Enabling Environment
The livestock sector has been prioritized by the government as a potential sector to eradicate poverty. As part of the strategy, the Government has taken steps for breed improvement of native chicken with the technical support of the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI).
For the development of the native chicken value chain development of a hatchery is essential. The government has no initiative to encourage or develop native chicks’ hatchery. According to the national livestock development policy’2007, DLS was planning to develop successful pro-poor semi-scavenging models. This Policy not specified whether this semi-scavenging method is for native chicken or broiler. If we consider this method for native chicken, we did not found significant action to implement this policy. National Livestock Extension Policy, 2013 prioritize the following: participation and empowerment of farmers and communities, the linkage between groups and institutions, innovative learning and communication, and successful dissemination of suitable technologies. DLS has yet to be shown any significant action to implant these strategies.
In the?northwest, the unfair local market tax increased production costs. Police are taking illegal money from traders which increase transaction cost as well as reduce farm gate price. Overall little attention of government was observed in both formulation and implementation of policies for the development of the native chicken value chain.??
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8. Growth potential
An unpublished document of DLS reported that the number of backyard poultry was 1276.56 lakh and that of broiler 765.96 lakh in 2013-14 and the proportion of broiler and native chicken meat was estimated as 25.94% and 3.15% respectively.?By number, broilers are almost half and by weight 8 times more than native chickens. This implies that the development of native chicken was neglected all through and broiler grew rapidly.?The yearly average growth rate was found to be slowly but steadily increased during the last 10 years. It was the highest in 2008-09 (4.20%) and the lowest in 2010-11(2.53). The average annual growth rate was 2.64% which reduced to 2.50% in 2012-13 and remains flat till now.
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From the data available from the DLS it was possible to differentiate production of meat from poultry and from poultry to native chicken as 25.94 % and 3.15% respectively. It was observed that meat production from broiler increased sharply from 2009-10 and the upward trend remained till to date (from 2.5 lac MT to16 lac MT), meat consumption from native chicken slightly (from 0.2 Lac MT to 2lac MT) increased but remains flat to date.
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In the?northwest, the existing demand for indigenous chicken, variety was high within the local community. There are 29 sales outlets and 17 local traders are engaged in existing business at Naogaon. The almost same number of the trader and retails sales outlets exit in almost all district-level markets.
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In the?southwest,?around 20% of demand was covered by the native birds. Day by day urban consumers demand is increasing on native chicken. The main obstacles behind the growth of the sector are the unavailability of native chicks, affordable financial services (interest rate and inappropriate repayment schedule), and an unstable output market.
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9. Women empowerment potential
Numerous disparities persist regarding the participation of rural women in native chicken production. Undoubtedly they face greater difficulties than men about access to input resources (such as land and credit, among others) and to services designed to increase productivity, for example, research, technology transfer, and extension services. Native chicken rearing in rural Bangladesh has been practiced by rural women for a long time at a small scale for multipurpose activities. This is one of the household enterprises, where women are involved from production to sales operation.
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10. Native chicken rearing models & Cost-Benefit Analysis:
10.1 Model-A:?Scavenging ten hens and one cock model
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The scavenging method of rearing 10 hens and 1 cock (10:1) model seems to be a tested model for the rural poor. The enterprise will need five to six months to initiate the business. Crop and crop waste (e.g. rice bran, broken rice, broken maize, mug bean, etc.) are used as feed.?
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Cost-Benefit of Model -A
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Income per production cycle:?50 chicken1 (age 70 days) X BDT 140/chicken; average 17% mortality considered (average 500 gram/ chicken; BDT 280/Kg). Therefore?total income is BDT 7,000.00
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Cost of production per production cycle:?(i) Chicken shed preparation (BDT 1600 for 2 years) cost is BDT 400/cycle; (ii) Feed cost (60 chicken, 1 kg/chicken, BDT 27/Kg) is BDT 1,620.00; (iii) Chick production cost (60 chickXBDT25/chicks) is BDT 1,500.00; (iv) Health service cost (60 Chickens X BDT 5/chicken) is BDT 300.00; Therefore?total production cost is BDT3, 820.00?
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Gross profit:?Deducting the cost of production from total income?is?BDT 3,180.00
Opportunity cost in terms of finance charge:?12.5 % interest rate for?3,820?capitals for 70 days?is BDT 76.00
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Net profit:?Deducting finance charge from gross profit is BDT?3,104.00?and?the benefit-cost ratio?is?1.81?(i.e. if producer invest BDT 1.00 will get the return of BDT 1.81)
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10.2 Model-B:?Stall-fed semi-scavenging 100 native chicken model?
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A semi-scavenging method of native chicken production will be followed. The farm will contain 100 chicks for 75 days. Hatchery collected eggs from villages and local markets through collectors, produce chicks, push vaccines timely, and sell 10 days chicks to the producer. Hatchery pushed two doses of vaccines namely baby chick Ranikhet disease vaccine (BCRDV) first dose at the age of 1-3 days and the second dose at 10 days. Sine producers sell native chicken within 80 days; they did not need to push any vaccines. Producer fed manufactured ready feed from age 10 to 40 days and feed normal crop waste feed from age 40 to 80 days.
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Cost-Benefit of Model -B
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The income per production cycle: Value of 95 native chicken (average weight of each chick: 600gm) within 75 days (57 kg X BDT 280/kg). Therefore?total income is BDT 15,960.00
Cost of production per production cycle:?(i) Chicken shed preparation (BDT 1600 for 2 years) cost is BDT 400/cycle; (ii) Feed cost (100 chicken, 1 kg/chicken, BDT 27/Kg) is BDT 2,700.00; (iii) Chick purchase cost (100 chickXBDT35/chicks) is BDT 3,500.00; (iv) Health service/vaccine cost (100 Chickens X BDT0 .5/chicken) is BDT 50.00; Therefore?total production cost is BDT6, 650.00??
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Gross profit:?Deducting the cost of production from total income is?BDT 9,310.00
Finance charge:?12.5 % interest rate for 6,650 capitals for 75 days is BDT 171.00
Net profit:?Deducting finance charge from gross profit?is BDT 9,139.00?and?the benefit-cost ratio is 2.37.
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Note for Model-A and B: (i) Once constructed, the shade can be used for at least two years, and (ii) As a family-run enterprise the labor cost has not been considered as it requires 3 to 4 hours of work for one individual every day to run the business.
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Comparison between Mode-A and B:?
Model A is difficult to implement as it requires a five to six-month run time, high mortality rate, difficulty to ensure vaccination as one vaccine requires more chicken(200 to 250 chicken). Model-B is easy to implement as it requires only 70 to 80 days, low mortality as vaccination ensured by the hatchery, easy for vaccination as many chicks produce by a hatchery. The main challenge face by hatchery is to ensure an adequate supply of eggs regularly.
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11. Native Chick Hatchery
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Public sector development initiative remained confined to scavenging system for a flock of 10 hens with a cock. It did not succeed because of high mortality due to disease infestation. The major bottleneck of expansion of this value chain is the scarcity of chicks. To solve this problem native chick hatchery is essential. It is difficult to find out a native chick-producing hatchery. However, there are a few hatcheries mainly duck egg hatching. In northwest Bangladesh, Practical Actions renovate two such hatcheries as a native chick-producing hatcheries. The entrepreneurs of these hatcheries face difficulty to expand their business as banks are not willing to finance such sub-standard enterprises. MFIs having credit facilities could come forward to fill up this gap of financing hatcheries. The impoverished small hatcheries are not capable to meet the demand of huge small farms of a small flock of 20 to100. A three-month booking is needed to get a few dozen of chicks.
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More such hatchery is essential for the growth of the native chicken sector. Production of hatchery could be increased to meet the growing demand of producers. Presently, hatcheries are collecting hatching eggs from open markets or households by employing egg collectors on commission. The supply of hatchable eggs is also limited. As a result, hatcheries also do not get enough eggs for hatching.
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11.1 Bread selection:?
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The success of expanding the rearing of native chicken depends on productivity. It is reported that there are three genotypes of native chicken namely Naked Neck, Hilly, and Non-descript Deshi. Researchers showed that the hill genotype is a better meat producer. At present Non-descript Deshi breed is reared of poor quality due to inbred, hatching eggs are also collected randomly from homes and markets. The?Kazla?a wild breed around Sundarban found high body weight (2 to 3 kg/chicken), testy, and might be potential for growth. Collecting brooders from hills and nearby Sundarban will be profitable for both brooders and hatchery.
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12.?SWOT Analysis
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Strengths:?Chicken rearing is a household enterprise's scope to utilize unused family labor and traditional value chain, required low investment, good return within a short time, constant market demand; input supply and services are available.
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Weaknesses: Limited access to the competitive market, small scale of production capacity cannot reap the benefit of economy of scale, limited available space for farm, and limited access to livestock services of DLS, lack of knowledge on improved rearing, and lack of hatchery for native chick supply?
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Opportunities:?High market demand, low initial investment, regular income opportunities, and the poultry sector is prioritized by the government as a potential sector to eradicate poverty.
Threats:?Epidemic, like – bird flu,?Ranikhet; market shock due to epidemic and nationwide limited supply of the vaccine.?
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13.?Constraints Analysis with probable solutions
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Constrains-1:?Small-scale farms cannot reap the benefit of economy of scale in buying inputs and selling of products:?Cause of these constraints are limited capacity, scope, capital, and no knowledge on benefits of collective work. A probable solution might be the formation of a native chicken producer group and solution providers are NGOs, Service providers, and big chicken traders.
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Constrains-2:?Inadequate supply of native chicks: Causes of constraining are native chicks hatchery and chicks are not available and where hatcheries available those are not able to produce adequate native chicks due to scarcity of egg. Probable solutions are to establish native chicken hatchery and where hatcheries already established increase egg supply to those hatcheries to produce more chicks. These hatcheries could identify good brooders and have a contractual arrangement with owners to produce quality eggs with proper feeding and supply the eggs to the hatchery at premium prices. Solution providers are brooders, hatcheries, DLS and NGO as a matchmaker.
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Constrains-3:?Mortality rate of native chicken is high:?Causes of constraining are Lack of proper management and timely vaccination. Possible solutions are to ensure vaccination, facilitate awareness-raising activities such as training and awareness-raising through the leaflet, booklet, learning session, etc and facilitate training. Solution providers are DLS, NGOs, and livestock health service providers.
Constrains-4:?Don’t get treatment service in due time:?Causes of constrain is Scarcity of Private livestock health service providers. A possible solution is to develop private livestock health service providers and solution providers are DLS and NGO.
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Constrains-5: Consumer not aware of the difference between native chicken and other similar chicken:?Causes of constrain is?Sonali?breed is seemed to be similar to native chicken. A possible solution is aware consumers of the difference between?Sonali?and native chicken. Solution providers are DLS, NGO, and chicken traders
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14. Recommendations to intervene leverage points:?
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Leverage is the process of targeting an intervention at points in a system that can generate broad change throughout the value chain.
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14.1 Leverage point-1: Development of native chicken hatchery
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As the demand for native chicken is high, producers are willing to produce more. A few producers in the?northwest?who understand model-B could not produce adequately due to the scarcity of native chicks. By understanding demand, a few hatcheries (in the?northwest) are willing to produce more chicks. Other majority hatcheries as well as producers (mainly in the?southwest) yet do not understand the model and the emerging market. The growth of this sub-sector mainly depends on the production capacity of native chick hatcheries. Therefore develop native chick hatchery is an important leverage point in the native chicken value chain.
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Contract production and supply of quality eggs to hatchery:?
The main constraint of developing native chick hatchery is to ensure a regular supply of eggs for hatching. Hatcheries faced this challenge due to the scarcity of eggs. These hatcheries could identify good brooders and have a contractual arrangement with owners to produce quality eggs with proper feeding and supply the eggs to the hatchery at premium prices. Provision of loans to the hatcheries is essential to expand hatching capacity and purchase of hatch-able eggs.
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14.2 Leverage point-2: Upgrading native chicken value Chain?
There is the possibility to establish a specialized markets channel if it is produced in large quantity, establish itself as superior meat and have supply contracts with corporate buyers (hotels & restaurants) and supermarkets. Such an arrangement can be made if initiatives are taken by producer groups. Hence, upgrading the native chicken value chain to high valued and higher volume markets is another leverage point in the native chicken value chain.?
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Contract with supermarkets:?
In the coming years, supermarkets will flourish and become the main outlet of food and consumer products. Both affluent and middle-class people are increasingly turning to supermarkets as a reliable outlet. Availability of native chicken in supermarkets will be welcomed by the consumers as the meat is likely to be tasteful, soft, and flashy. The initiative could be taken to make arrangements of the contract between farmers group and supermarkets including those which are operating in the district towns. Trail marketing can be done to create demand.
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15. Recommendations on key service and input provision:?
??14.1 Develop Service Providers Cadre?
A positive ongoing relationship between independent local service providers (LSPs) and the staff in the Dept. Livestock Services (DLS) are crucial. By working together with LSPs e.g. supporting them with training, mentoring, telephone advice it may be practical to make more effective use of DLS resources. In other parts of Bangladesh, LPS’s have successfully organized arrangements for regular ‘livestock clinics’ (e.g. monthly) where DLS staff can meet farmers and LSPs. LSPs also proved with proper and regular vaccination to control mortality of chicks which will reduce the risk of incurring losses.
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14.2 Provision of seasonal credit with insurance:?
The production cycle of improved native chicken production (model-B) is approximately 75 days. Adoption of a commercial model, 60 chickens every month will ensure approximately Tk. 8-10,000 a month. Most of the native chicken farmers do not have the capacity for such investment. MFIs and banks could extend a reasonable seasonal credit package with insurance like bulls enabling them to adopt a commercial model of improved native chicken rearing.
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14.3 Access to quality input:?
The feed is supplied by many small feed sellers located in the villages. The sellers purchase local by-products from the milling industry and mix them with fishmeal, vitamins, and mineral. A feed seller sells about 1 ton of feed per month. Existing feed sellers usually do not have adequate knowledge about the quality of feed. Sometimes the quality of feed is lost due to mishandling of packaging and storage. These feed sellers could be linked with quality feed companies to ensure the supply of quality feed.
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16. Training:??
Before a native chicken farm is established, farmers should provide a four days training program followed by two days of refresher courses. Brooders and hatchery technicians should provide five days of training followed by three days of refreshers.
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References:?