Poultry farmers in Munyu, Thika East have been advised to come together and form a cooperative society that will enable them to market their eggs and other poultry products.
Thika East Agricultural Officer Stephen Muia speaking to the farmers in Munyu on Wednesday said that a cooperative society would enable them have a collective bargaining power and to sell their eggs at a better price.
"When you are united together as farmers you are able to accrue many benefits as opposed to when you are just individual farmers trying to make it in the poultry farming business. Coming together and forming a marketing cooperative society just like other farmers in dairy farming, coffee farming to name but a few will give a collective bargaining power over how you sell your poultry products," said Muia.
Muia added that farmers would also be able to buy things like chicken feeds at reduced price as they would buy in wholesale.
"If there is one thing that has led many poultry farmers out of this business, it is the cost of feeds which has skyrocketed over years. However, with a cooperative society, farmers can have a good deal from chicken feed manufacturers and sellers," he said.
The agricultural officer also asked farmers to diversify poultry farming by seeking to rear the modern improvised 'kienyeji' chicken besides the exotic breeds, saying they have good returns and are resistant to diseases.