Cargill, Heifer International partner to enhance poultry value chain in Kenya

KENYA – Leading global food company Cargill in partnership with Heifer International have announced the expansion of their joint poultry project in Kenya dubbed Hatching Hope, to reach 10 million people by 2022 through a combination of direct support to farmers and consumer-awareness campaigns.

The initiative is also undertaken in collaboration with the national and county governments of Kenya i.e., Kisumu, Siaya, Homabay, Migori, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu counties and Nairobi Metropolitan.

Hatching Hope is a ground-breaking project that aims to increase farmer’s knowledge and resources needed to expand sustainable poultry production and avail the products in markets to earn a living income.

Poultry farming families in Kenya currently earn an average of US$1,559 per year – only 30% of the income needed to live a dignified life.

In addition, the initiative focuses on sharing nutritional information in relation to consumption of chicken and eggs with the wider community, contributing to a global goal of improving the nutrition and incomes of 100 million people by 2030.

In Kenya, 1.82 million children suffer from chronic malnutrition – over a quarter of the under-5 population.

“Hatching Hope is an example of Cargill and Heifer’s shared belief in the value of safe, sustainable and affordable animal protein in the diet – as well as a commitment to improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.”

Rene Osorio, Managing Director – Cargill Animal Nutrition Middle East and Africa

The project also aims to enhance the current poultry food and farming system to build a viable and equitable market system through a sustainable ‘Distributor Model’ to improve feed access and technical support for 46,000 poultry farming households.

Further to that, a poultry value chain study conducted by Heifer International revealed demand for poultry products is increasing in the seven counties where Hatching Hope Kenya is operating, with local supply unable to keep pace.

The program aims to reduce the supply gap of meat and eggs by promoting production best practices and provide a wide range of goods, services, and animal health and productivity expertise to meet this demand.

“Projects designed to support smallholder poultry farmers often focus only on production, rather than the changes needed across the market system.

“Hatching Hope takes a systems-wide approach, with the goal of increasing nutrition and incomes for smallholder poultry producers and their families,” said Adesuwa Ifedi, Senior Vice President of Africa Programs for Heifer International.

Hatching Hope combines Cargill’s expertise in poultry supply chains and nutrition with Heifer International’s 76 years of experience working with smallholder livestock producers to address all parts of the poultry system.

“Hatching Hope is an example of Cargill and Heifer’s shared belief in the value of safe, sustainable and affordable animal protein in the diet – as well as a commitment to improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers,” said Rene Osorio, Managing Director, Cargill Animal Nutrition Middle East and Africa.

“To have real long-term success, we see these participants as entrepreneurs – smart, resourceful animal producers. In teaching and sharing what we know we can support smallholder farmers to achieve the economic means to feed their children, send them to school and build resilient communities,” he added.

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