Scientists have predicted that by 20130 the consumption of poultry meat in kenya will reach 164.6 thousand metric tonnes due to the ever surging population in urban areas prompting increased in demand of the poultry product as compared to rural areas.
According to a 2017 study on the broiler meat system in Nairobi and published by ScienceDirect journal, Consumption of poultry meat in Kenya is predicted to increase from54.8 thousand metric tonnes in 2000 to 164.6 in 2030, and from 6 to30.5 thousand metric tonnes in Nairobi.
This has been attributed to urbanization, population growth, economic growth making people wealthier, and the continuing viability of current broiler chicken systems.
To meet this expected demand growth, poultry production in Kenya is expected to increase from 56.9 to 1,666 metric tonnes by 2030. This is with the hopes that trade regulations remain similar and relative prices of inputs and outputs to the poultry system remain unchanged.
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Already there is an increasing concentration of commercial chicken farming in and around urban centres such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu and Nyeri among others where market access is guaranteed, compared to rural areas where indigenous chickens continue to dominate.
This is definitely good news for the improved indigenous chicken farmers around the country as there is ready market as a result of increasing chicken inns, hotels, restaurants and home consumers who find chicken meat their daily delicacy.
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In the study, Nairobi has been found to be the bigger market as all poultry products especially meat have their destinations in the capital city.
“Nairobi, unlike other cities, has been found to be a the final destination for poultry from across the country, and the major entry and transit point for poultry within the region,” read part of the study.
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This is because since 1960s Nairobi has experienced a rapid human population growth hence need for more food to feed its dwellers.
In Kenya, agriculture contributes about 26% of its gross domestic product (GDP), and poultry represents roughly a third (30 per cent) of the agricultural GD.