THE POLL RESULT: HAVE YOU EVER EATEN RABBIT MEAT

We had established a poll in our blog, asking kenyans whether they had eaten rabbit meat. As you can all see, the result shows that 55% of respondents have eaten rabbit meat, while 44% have never eaten rabbit meat. The poll is a key indicator that many people have embraced rabit meat as an alternative protein n our diets.

I am elated at the 55% mark, and we should analyse what this really means for the rabbit farmers. First, we aknowledge that there is potential market for our rabbits because many people are eating rabbits. All we have to do is to make it available on a regular basis, and at affordable prices to our customers.

Secondly, it shows that we are engaging in a viable venture which is very lucrative to say the least. I therefore encourage the skeptics that the polls have given us a forecast of the real status of the rabbit sector in a smaller scale. How can we then translate this to be a national venture. I do advocate for stakeholder cooperation from various realms of enterprises to make this a reality.

The 44% of those who have never eaten rabbit meat represents a niche market for many rabbit farmers. How can they be brought on board to ensure that they consume rabbit meat? I believe that elaborate sensitization and marketing will solve the puzzle. Out of the 44%,  am certain a majority would be willing to taste rabbit meat.

Let us continue promoting the rabbit sector, since the burning desire back with faith and determination shall make us create and uphold a sustainable rabbit value chain for many years to come.

I thank the respondents who participated in the poll,from this we have managed to acquire a green light on what measures to undertake to promote rabbit consumption in the country.

A VISIT TO THE CHESTER RABBIT FSARM: 31ST JULY

Hello passionate rabbit farmers, i trust that this finds you well. Today i wish to share with you about a visit i made at the chester rabbit farm. It is located in kikuyu, at a small centre known as magu. Having made an appointment with the owner of the far, Mr. George Kariuki, i travelled from siaya to kikuyu, arrived at 10.00am on the 31st july 2011.

I have to state that the warm welcome i received from Mr. Charles Kihika and Ge6rge Kariuki was awesome, and i thank them wholeheartedly for their hospitality. Since it was my first time, we therefore managed to introduce ourselves officially.

my main aim for the visit were as follows
1. create collaboration and partnership with chester crabbit farm and other stakeholders that the farm is working with.
2. discuss the challenges that kerayi project and chester rabbit farm are facing and ways of combating such challenges.
3. learn from what what chester rabbit farm is doing and reciprocate the same to them.
4.discuss on the situation of thier market and ways of sustaining the market
5.create a larger network of rabbit farmers through the kerayi project.

i have to state that i managed to learn more than anticipated. Of much interest was the design of the chester rabbitry, which was well integrated in harnessing the rabbit urine and droppings, and being used both as pesticide and manure in Mr. kihika's green house.

It was yet another achievement through the meeting, that we managed to make an appointment and met Mr. D.K. Borter on the 1st of august , the key person in charge of rabbit sector under the ministry of livestock development. Much was discussed and network was created on that day.  I personally thank Mr. Borter for lending us an ear, and promising to work closely with us.

I also thank Mr. Kihika and Mr. Kariuki for the insurmountably information we shared and may God bless you in all your undertakings.

Mr. Otieno carrying a carlifornian white at chester rabbit farm

My parting short is to encourage all of us to work together to enable the rabbit industry prosper in the country.

THE EVENTS OF THE KISUMU AGRICULTURAL SHOW:Friday 29TH July

The Kisumu Agricultural Show was a major pivotal event that brought together many stakeholders in a central and convergence point in a big way. I have to say it was a learning experience for me and many other people who went at mamboleo. I managed to walk to two stand that were of most interest to the project we are currently running.

First, the Kibos prisons presented an elaborate and innovative way of an integrated system of rearing a number of animals form chicken, fish and rabbits at a go, each enjoying some mutual benefits in which chicken and rabbit droppings acting as fish food.

Networks and links were created and  i just have to mention the great work done by the Ministry of Livestock Development in providing a platform for the Seme Rabbit Production Group to showcase their rabbits to a bigger audience. We could see much interests in rabbit rearing from the audience.

I do ask those interested to get in touch with us even as we put things in their right place to promote rabbit consumption in the country.