Poultry farmers in Kiambu have closed down their businesses following the drastic fall of eggs prices despite rise in the cost of production.
The farmers attribute the price fall to suspected eggs importation from the neighboring countries and high taxation leading to high cost of production.
With the cost of one sack of poultry feed increasing from ksh 2500 to ksh 3000 and that of one tray of eggs decreasing from ksh 300 to Ksh 250,the farmers say they have no option than to opt out of the loss making business .
They lament many jobs will be lost when needed most especially during this covid 19 time.
Zachary Munyambu, a poultry farmer narrates when and how the rain started beating him forcing him to close down his business.
Munyambu’s only source of income has been poultry for the last 20 years and has helped him take his children to school but now his future and that of his children is uncertain since he doesn’t have any other source of income.
Salome Wairimu,a Farmer explains how poultry farming is slowly ebbing away thanks to high cost of production mostly attributed by high taxes.
She explains how the entire supply chain in poultry farming is heading south.
Kiambu poultry farmers cooperative society production manager John Mwaniki Njeha opines increased prices of raw materials used to produce poultry feed has skyrocketed in the recent past leaving them with no option than to hike the feeds prices.
On her part, Kiambu poultry farmers cooperative society chairlady Ann Wanjiku says
they are closing their factories because their long term customers have already vacated the business.
Wanjiku has pleaded with the government to consider giving poultry farmers subsidies so as to remain in the market.
The farmers are therefore calling on the government to standardize to the eggs prices and lower the high taxes imposed on products used in egg production.