THE JAMAICA 4-H Clubs, through the assistance of Kingston Hatcheries, is now in better stead to expand its training capabilities in poultry care and management, by way of the Kingston Hatcheries/Jamaica 4-H Clubs Broiler Project.
This ongoing project, which got off the ground in January, has as its objectives, the training of clubbites in the proper techniques of constructing and preparing broiler houses, educating and training clubbites in the proper methods of rearing broiler chicks, the creation of viable income-generating projects to assist clubbites and also to equip these clubbites with packaging marketing techniques.
"The aim of the project will be to provide more than 20,000 4-H clubites with the technical knowledge of rearing broiler chicks," said 4-H clubs Parish Development Officer for St. Mary, Charlene Edwards-Butler.
Her parish is one of the six parishes, which comprise the Jamaica 4-H Clubs Eastern Region, the first to benefit from the project.
Since the project's inception, approximately 48 schools in that region have been receiving training, which has been conducted through seminars, training at the club level and participation in the project. To date, a total of 4,400 chickens have been distributed, with 2,200 to be provided every school term. Butler noted also that at times when surplus chickens are available, these too would be offered towards the project.
The project, which is being supported through a grant of $66,000.00 (provided by Kingston Hatcheries), is being managed by Kingston Hatcheries and officers in the eastern region, in collaboration with officers of participating clubs and through the support of 4-H members of staff.
Technical assistance is also provided through the staff of Kingston Hatcheries and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA).
Regional Co-ordinator for the eastern region, Linton Barnes, noted that all the parishes in the region have received chickens.
"Each parish started with eight projects, each of which have received 50 chickens," he said. He noted also that the other regions would also benefit from the project.
"The next set of chickens which should be ready for distribution in March will be given to clubites in Central Region, while the Western Region will be given approximately two months after," he added.
This training in poultry rearing will also serve as a prerequisite for participation in the Poultry Rearing Competition at the 4-H Clubs' Parish Achievement Days scheduled to take place between March and April this year. Parish Achievement Days are special events where all registered clubs in each parish come together and compete for prizes in agricultural, home economics, environmental and social skills events.
