Thank you again for this opportunity to discuss about family poultry production systems and their role in community livelihoods. 
 
 
1.   The contribution of research to the development of family poultry production systems
 
During the last conference on family poultry, we shared a lot our experiences and findings from different research and I am sure that all sectors have been covered (genetic, breeding, housing, nutrition, marketing, diseases control,…). Today, Researches should be focused to the productivity and marketing of poultry products. Several developing countries don’t dispose the extension unit to transfer findings to farmers that creates a gap between different all actors. Farmers should be involved directly in research projects. In different countries, local chickens are considered as high value products, for the quality of their meat and eggs. In Rwanda for example, recent study carried out in Northern Province, showed that the price of a local coq (2kg live) is 2 to 3 times the price of commercial broiler (weight equivalent). As a very low input production system, family poultry should contribute highly to the poverty reduction, if research and development are focused on marketing flows, the fixation of price, permanent availability of poultry products on market, reduction of intermediaries in value-chain,…
 
2.   The development for livelihoods through family poultry — cost and opportunities
Yes, family poultry production could contribute to the food security, not directly by auto-consumption (for animal origin proteins) as some participants have highlighted. By selling local live-birds and eggs, families could get considerable incomes which should help for their everyday needs. In some countries, family poultry should be valuable with a quality label, which can contribute in increasing their price. A strict control to avoid speculation and fraud should be insured to protect this activity. In France, the labelling system has increased considerably the value of local products. 
Family poultry production is a sustainable source of income. However, it is subjected to good management of breeding, because many farmers can’t offer their products regularly on market. High number of live-birds is found on market during crop season to avoid them scavenging in crop fields, they are sold at low price, what is not profitable for families.
 
 
3. Competing or complementing commercial poultry production systems? 
 
Competition with commercial poultry production systems is not fair and not arranging for family producers. Different strategies have been studied to enhance the quality and characteristics of commercial poultry at the same level or more than family poultry. The commercial poultry are very cheap and available the whole year. There are also many companies which support commercial producers in input and technology. As I said before, the best way is to create local poultry label with specific quality characteristics, which can help local community to sell a value-added products. Those products should be sold to the consumers of main cities who know or have nostalgia’s of countryside products. 

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Aimable UWIZEYE, DVM
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Lethbridge Research Centre
Box 3000; 5403 - 1st Avenue South 
Office mail: [log in to unmask]

CANADA
Office: 403-317-3369
Home: 403-942-2597 
A good attitude is a powerful force



 		 	   		  
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