October 3, 2013

In a move to enable chicken farmers to produce better, Tanzania's Iramba District will launch its poultry abattoir early next year.

The construction of the first ever poultry abattoir in the country is aimed at transforming the indigenous poultry sector from a conventional subsistence one into a commercial business sector by producing tasty breeds of traditional chickens.

Iramba District Commissioner Yahya Nawanda said upon completion, the new poultry abattoir will benefit 45,000 families. Nawanda said the abattoir which will be located at Misigiri poultry market will assist chicken farmers in the district especially the poverty stricken ones improve their standards of living.

He noted that 70 groups have been formed from 45,000 families who established a Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs), to which each one must contribute about TZS50,000 (US$31), and about 300 were registered at the first meeting.

He said currently they are in talks with Tanzania Laboratory Veterinary Agency (TLVA) to get about 400,000 doses for chickens, to combat diseases.

He spelled out lack of refrigerated vehicle suitable for transporting chicken orders to the market as one of the challenges.

He pointed that chicken farmers in the district will be trained on different issues, ranging from chicken selection, eggs management, marketing, and diseases controls so as to produce better, marketable chickens.