An Evaluation of Performance of Indigenous Chicken and Irish Potato Value Chains by Smallholder Farmers under Kopia Project in Meru County, Kenya

Abstract

Adequate, nutritious and safe food is a basic human need. A bilateral project on food security was implemented in Meru County with support from the Republic of South Korea and the County government of Meru between January 2020 and December 2022. The ordinary two-year handover period is ending in December 2024. Its objective was to improve the performance of indigenous chicken and Irish potato value chains among smallholder producers. Despite the existence of high demand for both Indigenous chicken and Irish potatoes, market supply remains low. A stratified sampling method was used to identify 4 Indigenous chickens, Ng’onyi, Mbaria, Ntalami, and Kangeta, and 2 Irish potatoes, Katheri and Murungurune villages, to serve as models. Two hundred practising farmers were selected from each village. All the farmers identified inadequate knowledge, poor genetic materials (Indigenous chicken and Irish potato), high disease incidences, and poorly developed market structures as the main challenges they faced. A training hall was constructed in each of the six model villages and equipped with a computer, a printer, and a monitor. Each chicken-keeping village had a hatchery unit, and those growing potatoes had a potato storage unit constructed and equipped. Egg incubators and Hatchers were provided to the Indigenous chicken-keeping villages. A motorcycle to assist lead-farmer movement was provided to each model village. A curriculum with 22 areas and another one with 20 units were developed to train the Indigenous chicken keepers and Irish potato farmers, respectively. Each curriculum included both technical and non-technical aspects. A total of 73, 837 day old Improved Indigenous chicks were equitably supplied to all the four model villages, with 41600 day old chicks procured from Kenya agriculture, livestock research organization (KALRO) and 32237 locally hatched. A total of 51 tonnes of assorted clean-seed potatoes were procured and supplied to the farmers. The total annual revenue from eggs (tray) rose from Ksh15583.3 before intervention to Ksh133588.7 after intervention. The quantity of eggs sold in trays increased from 54.4 to 193.7, while those sold in pieces increased from 482 to 969. The number of hens sold increased from 17 to 29, and that of cocks sold doubled from 15 to 30. However, all the variable cost components increased during the intervention period. Broilers Mash witnessed the biggest increase in cost by 217.6% from Ksh 1358.9 before intervention to Ksh 2956.5. Despite a rise in the total variable cost by 213%, the average annual gross margin rose from Ksh.7092 to Ksh 91523. The Irish potato farmers had an increase of 192 % in weight (Kg/acre) of total tubers, with production rising from 8711 to 16711 Kg. The potato farmers had a 75.4% increase in household incomes, and their gross margins increased by 76.9 %. The potato farm gate prices increased by 28.57%. After interventions, the potato farmer's gross margin recorded an increase from Ksh. 9 566.5 to 16927.4, translating to a 77% increase. The average total seasonal production increased from 1,394.5 Kg to 2,120.5 Kg. The revenue received from potatoes per season increased from Ksh.46855.2. to Ksh.91605.6 per season. The increase in revenue was a result of the increase in the quantity produced and the price per kg. From the results above, it can be concluded that the implementation of the Indigenous chicken and Irish potato value chains project helped to improve production and household incomes. It is recommended that policy-makers adopt this model village approach in all the agricultural-based value chains.