A photo of chicken ready for sale. [Photo:E Daily]
Farmers in Matuu have been advised to take up poultry farming to boost their incomes as well as their health.
Area Sub-County Officer Joseph Mwangangi speaking to farmers on Thursday in the area, said there is a ready market for chicken as many Kenyans are now consuming them unlike before.
"We are going round teaching farmers in this area on the nutritional value of chicken meat and the entrepreneurial benefits they can get from poultry farming," said Mwangangi.
He said farmers who have embraced poultry farming seriously were now reaping the benefits due to the increased demand for chicken meat especially in the neighbouring Nairobi County during this festive season.
Mwangangi added that they are also trying to dissuade farmers from relying on yams as their sole source of income.
"Yam market is controlled by global prices and sometimes farmers bear the brunt of low prices. That is we are helping them to compliment their source of income," he said.
Mwangangi also noted that over-reliance on maize as the staple food was likely to expose the area to food insecurity.