By Dramadri Federick

For poultry farmers in Uganda’s West Nile sub-region, the journey from a day-old chick to a mature bird ready for the market is increasingly becoming a carefully managed business rather than a traditional backyard activity.

From the moment chicks arrive at a farm, farmers focus on providing warmth, clean water, quality feed, vaccination and proper housing to ensure the birds survive the vulnerable early stages.

As the chicks grow, farmers gradually adjust their feeding programmes, strengthen disease control measures and monitor their growth until the birds reach market weight or, in the case of layers, begin producing eggs.

At maturity, the birds are sold to local consumers, traders, restaurants and buyers from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.

Agnes Ajidiru who used to earn from Tobacco growing in Arua district has shifted to Poultry farming due to tedious work, heavy investment or resources and poor earning outcomes. She says she is now earning a lot of money from chicken production after every three months since she raises them for other people to complete the production circle.

“I have realized that I wasted a lot of time in producing tobacco and now government is discouraging tobacco production, the earnings are little and soils have lost fertility. Ever since I got the knowledge of chicken raising from the commercial agents, I have fully ventured into the enterprise, increasing my quarterly earnings to at least 4 million from every batch of chicken I sell out”

For farmers facing increasingly unpredictable weather, this relatively short production cycle is providing an alternative source of income at a time when dependence on seasonal crop farming has become increasingly risky.

Across West Nile, prolonged dry spells, erratic rainfall and occasional floods have affected crop production, leaving many households searching for enterprises that can generate income even when agricultural seasons fail.

Commercial poultry farming is emerging as one such option.

From day-old chicks to the market

Unlike traditional free-range poultry keeping, commercial production requires farmers to manage the birds throughout their growth cycle.

For Farmers like Ajidiru, the process begins with sourcing quality day-old chicks, followed by brooding, feeding, vaccination and disease prevention.

During the early weeks, she said farmers must provide adequate warmth and protection because young chicks are particularly vulnerable to cold, infections and poor feeding.

As the birds mature, farmers move them into appropriate housing and continue providing balanced feed and clean water while monitoring their growth.

“I am cognizant of the fact that startup is usually expensive due to limited experience but chicken rearing only needs sufficient time and follow-up of the biosecurity measures” She noted

For broilers, the objective is to reach market weight as quickly as possible. Layers, on the other hand, are maintained for egg production and can provide farmers with a more regular income stream.

Joel Okuva, another farmer in Arua City, says the relatively short production cycle is one of the reasons he has shifted more attention to poultry.

“I have been farming crops but this time round I turned to poultry. For me, I raise them for one month and sell all of them. It is the quickest way of earning,” Okuva says.

For Okuva and other farmers, poultry provides an important financial buffer when prolonged sunshine or erratic rainfall affects crop yields.

“The sunshine stayed for a long time … but at the end we got very little. Using proceeds from poultry, one can still buy food from others and survive, unlike a neighbour who will have nothing to feed on that season because of crop failure,” he explains.

The poultry enterprise therefore does not necessarily replace crop farming. Instead, the two activities can complement each other.

Poultry and crops supporting each other

Farmers can grow crops that provide some of the raw materials used in poultry feed, while poultry manure can be returned to the gardens to improve soil fertility.

This creates a circular farming system in which crop and livestock enterprises support one another.

Dr. Nguma Willy, the Arua District Production Officer, describes poultry as a relatively quick-return enterprise that can complement crop production.

“Poultry production is one of the easiest, climate-resilient, quick-return enterprises because the poultry feed on anything,” Nguma says.

However, commercial poultry production requires more than simply keeping birds.

Farmers must manage feed costs, disease outbreaks, housing, vaccination, mortality and markets if the enterprise is to remain profitable.

This is where commercial poultry agents are increasingly becoming important.

Commercial agents take poultry production beyond the farm

Commercial agents such as Crown Ventures Poultry Farm are working with farmers not only to supply birds but also to provide technical support throughout the production cycle.

Alice Oriba, Director of Crown Ventures Poultry Farm in Yabiavoko Ward on the outskirts of Arua City, says the company supports farmers with knowledge on proper feeding, disease prevention, poultry housing, farm management and market access.

The support is particularly important because climate change is creating conditions that can increase risks to poultry production.

Extreme heat can stress birds, while cold weather can weaken their immunity. Changes in environmental conditions can also create favourable conditions for some pests and disease-causing organisms.

Poor biosecurity can allow diseases such as Newcastle disease to spread rapidly through farms and villages, potentially wiping out entire flocks.

Commercial agents therefore train farmers on measures such as proper housing, sanitation, isolation of sick birds, vaccination and appropriate use of veterinary medicines.

Routine vaccination is particularly important.

Farmers also need professional guidance on drug administration because incorrect dosages can either fail to protect birds or create other risks.

Oriba says the company’s role goes beyond supplying farmers with chicks.

“We only have 1,500 birds in this compartment where we raise chicken for the farmers out of the 10,000 birds, and we have a target of selling 40,000 birds this year alone. The market is abundant,” Oriba explains.

The model creates a link between commercial producers and smaller farmers, allowing farmers who may not have the capacity to establish large hatcheries or breeding operations to participate in the poultry value chain.

Uganda’s poultry population remains largely indigenous

Despite the growing commercial market, Uganda’s poultry sector remains dominated by indigenous birds.

Data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries indicates that Uganda has an estimated 57.8 million chickens, with more than 87 percent being indigenous breeds.

In many rural households, poultry keeping remains small-scale, with families commonly keeping between 6 and 22 birds.

These birds are often maintained primarily for household consumption, cultural functions and emergency income rather than as a fully commercial enterprise.

The shift towards improved breeds and better production practices therefore presents an opportunity to increase productivity without necessarily requiring farmers to abandon their other agricultural activities.

Veterinary and production officers are encouraging farmers to adopt improved breeds suited to commercial production while maintaining proper disease-control measures.

Climate change is changing the economics of farming

For decades, crop farming has been one of the main livelihood activities for households across West Nile.

But prolonged dry spells and unpredictable rainfall are making the timing and reliability of agricultural production increasingly uncertain.

Moses Akuma Odims the Executive Director West Nile Development Association WENDA says “farmers can invest in seed, labour and inputs only to lose much of the expected harvest because rainfall stops prematurely. Poultry can eliminate climate-related risks, as its shorter production cycle provides greater flexibility”.

“A farmer can raise broilers for several weeks, sell them and reinvest the proceeds instead of waiting for a single annual crop harvest.” Akuma Added

Income from poultry can also be used to purchase food when household gardens have failed.

This makes poultry particularly important for households seeking to diversify their sources of income.

A market stretching beyond West Nile Region

The economic opportunity is not limited to local consumers.

West Nile’s strategic location near the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan provides access to cross-border markets for live birds and poultry products.

At Ariwara Market in Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of Congo, traders confirmed that chicken that may sell for approximately25,000 shillings to 35,000 shillings in West Nile markets can reportedly fetch between 65,000 shillings and 70,000 shillingsin some DRC markets.

In South Sudan’s Equatoria region, similar birds can reportedly fetch between 70,000 shillings and 80,000shillings, depending on size and market conditions.

The price differences demonstrate the potential value that could be retained within West Nile if local farmers increase production and meet regional demand.

Matua Job Richard, the Assistant Resident City Commissioner for Arua Central Division in charge of socio-economic transformation, says the region has a significant untapped market.

“There’s abundant market. Just in DR Congo here, each cock of over 2kgs goes up to 70,000 shillings, and yet we import a lot of eggs from Kampala, Hoima, Masaka and even live chicken from Lango, Acholi and parts of the Eastern sub-regions,” Matua says.

He argues that farmers should diversify their enterprises as climate conditions make dependence on crop production increasingly difficult.

“Our people must embrace these alternative enterprises that are climate resilient because the weather is no longer favouring crop production,” he adds.

West Nile loses billions importing poultry

The irony is that while West Nile has access to lucrative regional markets, the region still imports significant quantities of poultry and poultry products from other parts of Uganda.

According to the Arua City Chamber of Commerce, West Nile loses more than 15 billion shillings annually importing poultry and poultry products from outside the region.

Anguzu Silas the Chairman Chamber of Commerce and Industries Arua city Branch says “Majority Eggs and live birds are brought into the region from areas including Kampala, Hoima, Masaka, Lango, Acholi and parts of Eastern Uganda. This is costing more than 15.5billion shillings and yet the regional economy remains poor, we must invest in poultry production”

Anguzu further stretches that the figures represent both a challenge and an economic opportunity saying if local farmers can increase production, improve quality and establish reliable supply systems, more of the money currently leaving the region could circulate within West Nile.

The opportunity becomes even greater during festive seasons, when demand for chicken and eggs rises sharply.

A poultry project turning eggs into income

At Obutava Church of Uganda in Maracha District, poultry farming is demonstrating how organised production can transform a small enterprise into a source of regular income.

The Obutava Community Development Poultry Farm currently manages about 1,000 birds.

The project collects between 18 and 22 trays of eggs every day, generating at least 200,000 shillings in daily sales from eggs. At that rate, the project has the potential to generate approximately73 million shillings annually in egg sales, depending on production levels, prices and market conditions. Production records show significant growth.

In February, the project produced 191 trays of eggs. Production increased to 496 trays in March and 606 trays in April. It later declined to 470 trays in May before rising again to 617 trays in the subsequent production cycle.

The figures demonstrate the potential for organized poultry enterprises to generate regular cash flow when birds are properly managed and markets are available.

Primo Adomati, Chairperson of the farm, says the growth in poultry production has improved household incomes for participating members, with earnings from the enterprise increasingly competing with or surpassing income previously generated from crop farming.

The project also illustrates the role religious institutions, community groups, women and youth organisations can play in expanding commercial poultry production across the region.

Poultry can create jobs beyond the farm

The poultry value chain extends far beyond the farmer who keeps the birds.

It involves hatcheries, chick suppliers, feed dealers, veterinary service providers, commercial agents, transporters, egg traders, live-bird traders, restaurants and consumers.

As production increases, opportunities also emerge for young people to work in poultry housing, feeding, vaccination support, egg collection, transportation, marketing and processing.

This makes poultry relevant not only as a household livelihood but also as a potential source of employment.

Commercial agents are the epicenter towards strengthening this value chain by connecting farmers to technical knowledge and markets while helping producers understand what consumers are demanding.

Pariyo Demos Akamba the Executive Director of Celavie Livestock Farm noted that they proved farmers with chicks, extension services and ensure timely vaccination of the keep the poultry productively.

“We have provided a platform for free farmer trainings on disease control, housing establishment and we cost share with farmers on feeds as we also provide market linkages for the poultry and poultry products. This keeps the cycle moving”

The production gap remains a major challenge

Despite the market opportunities, West Nile region has not yet produced enough poultry to satisfy local and regional demand.

Much of the region’s poultry production remains small-scale, with farmers keeping indigenous birds under free-range systems.

Such birds are generally slower-growing and produce fewer eggs than improved commercial breeds.

Disease outbreaks, high feed costs, limited access to veterinary services and inadequate housing also constrain commercial production yet climate change adds another layer of risk characterized by high temperatures can cause heat stress, reduce feed intake and affect productivity, while prolonged wet or cold conditions can increase disease risks.

Data from Arua district Production Department indicates that out of 2,642 beneficiaries of the Parish Development Module PDM funding, 30% of the enterprises ventured into poultry production accounting for 792 people. “These people are now doing well in terms of their earnings compared to other enterprises like cassava and simsim” Nguma stated

This means that simply increasing the number of birds will not be enough.

Farmers need knowledge, improved breeds, quality feeds, reliable veterinary services, proper housing, finance and dependable markets.

From backyard birds to a regional enterprise

The story of poultry in West Nile is therefore no longer simply about keeping chickens around the homestead.

It is increasingly about transforming poultry into a commercial enterprise, one that begins with quality day-old chicks, continues through proper feeding, vaccination and disease prevention, and ends with birds or eggs reaching consumers in local and regional markets.

For farmers such as Joel Okuva, the attraction is the speed at which poultry can generate income.

For commercial agents such as Alice Oriba, the opportunity lies in connecting farmers with production knowledge and expanding the supply of birds.

For community enterprises such as Obutava Community Development Poultry Farm, the value is in turning organised production into sustained income.

And for a region that loses more than 15 billion shillings annually importing poultry and poultry products, the opportunity is to produce more of what its own consumers and neighbouring markets are already demanding.

As climate change continues to undermine the predictability of traditional crop farming, commercial poultry is emerging as more than an alternative livelihood.

It is becoming a potential climate-resilient pathway for food security, household income, employment and economic transformation in West Nile.

END.