The Ndekero Challenge: A Systems Approach for Rabbit Keeping by a Rural Community in Partnership with a Commercial Rabbit Farm REMIX
The Ndekero Challenge is a method for backyard community rabbit keepers to partner with a commercial rabbit farm and to help each other.
The Ndekero Challenge: A Systems Approach for Rabbit Keeping by a Rural Community in Partnership with a Rabbit Colony Farm
Contents:
1. Problem and Needs
2. The Challenge and Objectives
3. Required Resources
4. Business Case
5. Plan and Execution
6. Expected Results and Risks
7. Experience and Skills
8. Real World Impact
- Problems and Needs
This project addresses several common issues of countries in Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA). 15 percent of the global population currently fall into the category of "hungry persons". FAO has released a statement (2009) that for the first time in humanity, the number of "hungry" people has reached 1 billion. 70 % of the world's poor are farmers. 62% of Africa's population is below 25 years old and of which, 200 million are between 15 and 24 years old. The situation in SSA is bad and focus should be given to farmers and rural women and children who are most vulnerable. The incidence of poverty (less than US$ 2 per day) in SSA among these young people is 72.1%. 70% of the youth population is still in rural areas. Most rural youths are involved in subsistence agriculture or unremunerated home production activities as the rural wage labour market remains small. Youths who migrate to the cities often find themselves facing stronger challenges where youth unemployment in SSA urban areas is 68.6 % and which already is higher than in rural areas.
Another issue is education and girls. The net school enrolment in 2005 in SSA was 65% for young women while it was 71% for men. In rural areas, most female youth get married before the age of 24. Motherhood also starts early and median age at first birth is 18-19 years old. Rural young women often have lower levels of school attainment and school enrolment and thus are more likely to be unemployed if they move to urban areas. They are also more likely to be out of the labour force. In order to create jobs and accelerate progress to increase agricultural productivity, World Bank report on "Youth and Employment in Africa" (2009) recommends to connect poor people to markets.
2. The Challenge and Objectives
Diversification of agricultural activities that can add to the generation of farm products throughout the year should be a primary goal of rural farmers as it will make their livelihoods sustainable. "Value-added" products and multi-products approach can provide better income/food security for families, and strengthen agribusiness. The Ndekero Challenge addresses all these problems and needs. Fair trade will also create opportunities for the disadvantaged farmers and gives them a fair share of the economic product lifecycle. The approach helps reduce poverty and enhanced marketing by connecting rural people to markets. The concept is through cooperation and partnerships between the local community and the local commercial sector so that family income and agribusiness can expand together. At the same time this project will enhance water resource management, improve communications and develop products that avoid post-harvest losses.
The project will focus at rabbit keeping and rabbit farming. In SSA it is a common backyard activity where children can also participate. Programs on rabbit keeping have often targeted this activity as a backyard activity for rural households where meat is for home consumption and sometimes sold. Cash income may be generated but it is not significant. The scale up of rabbit meat production at home is a major hurdle for most families as it requires a significant increase in the number of cages. It also demands greater discipline in management routines, skills and more work hours for the family members. A female adult rabbit ("doe") can have as many as 2-3 litters in 6 months with about 15 rabbits. Under rural conditions, it can take 5-6 months before they are ready for slaughter. Thus to keep a breeding doe, the family may need about 3-4 cages to bring weaned rabbits to age as meat. Broiler males and females must also be separated. So in a backyard operation with 10 does may require about 30 cages.
The traditional western style "cage method" is an expensive option in rural SSA. It is also labour intensive because grass is the feed as commercial feed pellets are both expensive and not always available. An alternative to this method is to raise rabbits in vegetated open enclosures that allow them to burrow into the ground and to reduce housing costs. However, to prevent rabbits from escaping, predation and thefts, investment is needed for fencing. In this project, the technical innovation is that instead of physical fencing, a 10 m wide barrier of water will be created around the whole colony farm. This is integrated with fish farming for additional income generation and to ensure an income source all round the year.
To address the issue of connecting poor people to markets, the rabbit farm will partner with families and the local community. The mechanism of partnership can be in two ways. Families and community can (i) raise weaned young rabbits (kits) and sell them to the commercial farm, and/or (ii) deliver and sell broilers to farm for slaughter and marketing. (http://www.globetree.org/africa/rabbit-net/scheme01-ws.jpg)
The project objectives are:
(i) to involve and empower rural women in income generation activities on rabbit production, processing and product development of hides, marketing and sales, training and services.
(ii) to produce at least 100 kg of rabbit meat every month
(iii) to demonstrate rabbit colony farming methods and integrate it with other agricultural activities for diversification of products and additional income generation
(iv) to provide part-time jobs to poor parents so that their children don't drop out of school
(v) to help advocate a public pricing of rabbit meat so that the poor can also afford and to advocate fair trade and fair price for rabbit meat
(vi) to provide the opportunity to families to eat 1 kilo of meat at least once a month,
(vii) to support the rabbit meat industry in Kenya and to serve as a model for other countries
3. Required Resources
The project site is in Ndekero (Meru District, Kenya) and was selected from 26 potential sites by the author. It was chosen because of favourable resources and requirements to ensure highest potential in project success. See images in http://www.globetree.org/africa/ndekero/index.htm and http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2111&id=100000175854706&op=12
3.1. Target groups
There are 3 target groups (http://www.globetree.org/africa/rabbit-net/scheme02-ws.jpg)
(i) parents of the 200 children at Our Lady of Annunciation Primary School
(ii) the local community in Ndekero Village
(iii) consumers in Meru and surrounding area
Nazareth Sisters run a charity, private, primary day school at Ndekero village. As a "NGO" school, it is not entitled to receive any support from the Kenyan Government. So school fee is collected to cover part of the operational costs (children's lunches, teachers' salaries, etc). Several parents have difficulty to pay the full fees and their children risks dropping out of school. Data from Uganda (2005) indicate that as many as 40 % of primary school students drop out. Girls are more affected than boys.
The school connects to the rural community on a daily basis and this is very important for communications and information exchange with the women and children. The community group will be 50 families. Participants will be chosen because they already keep rabbits and/or are poor families with school children. A child can manage a cage with 2 adult does (female) and a family can have 3-4 cages. The local community is generally hard working and positive to support the project. The community is "cash poor" but most of them have access to land for farming. These are people who want to see that their children get a better education and training than what they can get from public schools. They also have much respect and appreciation for what the Nazareth Sisters are doing (school where children get lunch, orphanage/children's home, providing some employment during the harvest season, etc) and therefore supportive to any activity with the school.
Meru municipal council has a population of about 140,000 inhabitants. Meru town is the 8th largest City in Kenya and is the business, agricultural and educational center for the northeast of Kenya. The general public is a potential consumer if rabbit meat can be priced the same as beef which is the cheapest meat in the market (200-250 Ksh/kg). Meru is 5 hours drive to Nairobi. Ndekero village is just 30 minutes drive from Meru town but is not yet connected to the electricity grid and is not served with piped water.
3.2. Resources
Natural resources available at the project site are stones/rocks, river sand, river water, forest, crop residues and various other green biomass that can be used as rabbit feed.
Land for the rabbit colony farm is available at the 30 acre farm of the Nazareth Sisters. One breeding doe will have access to at least 5 m2 of space. The farm will hold at least 1000 rabbits. A farm house will be constructed. Funding (pending approval) for infra-structure and materials/labour will come from the Swedish Catholic Church and other sources. ARC contest prize money will be used to implement the project component that concerns community partnership with the farm, improving backyard rabbit keeping and to other income generation activities. (http://www.globetree.org/africa/rabbit-net/scheme01-ws.jpg).
The art and technology on rabbit keeping is not new to people in Ndekero village. Backyard rabbit keeping is relatively simple and rabbits are usually kept in cages or hutches. Local materials are used to construct the cage (e.g. roof sheet, some planks for the floor, chick wire netting, door hinges and nails). Green plant matter (grass, weeds, leaves from shrubs and trees) is plentiful but can be limited during the dry season. It is like having a few free range chickens. However the keeping of a larger number of rabbits can be hindered by requirements due to the scale of the operation for the family. With the setting up of a commercial farm in Ndekero, families have the opportunity to deliver weaned rabbits to the rabbit farm for cash or for meat. This way each family only needs to have 2-3 cages. It is just like several families having their chick hatchery businesses and delivering the chicks to a poultry farm for broiler production.
3.3. Investment Resources
Small amounts of investments by a family may be needed for the construction of additional rabbit cages or to construct a large roofed enclosure with mud re-enforced walls. Project funding can go to help construct such cages for families and payment/rental can be made with weaned rabbits. A wooden hutch (1m2) may cost between 2,000-4,000 Ksh while a roofed enclosure with mud walls and wire-mashed floor could be cheaper on a unit space basis.
The requested budget for establishing the farm is 30,000 US$. A major part of the farm investment is the construction of the water canal around the 1 acre rabbit colony to prevent the rabbits from escaping and to prevent predator entry and the fencing materials for the open enclosures. Enclosures have a multi-purpose for containing rabbits into small colonies, to facilitate catching of the rabbits as well as to provide additional protection from predators. Fencing will also enable farrowing of pasture land and the re-growth of grass.
The Prize money (20,000 US$) will be for developing the partnerships between community and the farm as well as for training and materials costs for the families.
(i) materials, construction, transport, accessories for 100 wooden cages/mud enclosures : 4,000 US$
(ii) allotment garden with children : 1500 US$
(iii) training, survey and site visits : 2,000 US$
(iv) materials and set-up for tanning of rabbit hides : 2,000 US$
(v) documentation, reporting : 2,000 US$
(vi) local coordination : 3,000 US$
(vii) International coordination/travel : 4,000 US$
(viii) Project administration: 1,500 US$.
4. Business Case
Mr. Njung'e (July 07, 2009) indicated that there is a ready market for rabbit meat in Nairobi for 2000 kgs per week. This works out to be about 100,000 kg per year for Nairobi alone. From another information source, there was a specific request of 100 kg/week by a Nakumatt supermarket branch in Nairobi. There is a demand for rabbit meat but this has not been met because of inadequate supply. Because supply is not there, there is currently a niche market to hotels that are willing to pay a higher price. Local butcheries usually do not display rabbit meat and other small restaurants will serve rabbit if an order is given to them. The Kenyan government and media are also trying to develop a rabbit meat industry too. (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTuMoosJSQk ; 21 Sept 2009).
There is a current attitude problem of overpricing rabbit meat as rabbit breeders want to make more profit by marketing it as a luxury meat. In such a case local butcheries will not be able to sell it to the general community. Rabbit meat can be produced at a low cost and certainly not more than chickens that are fed with commercial feed. Rabbits can take 3 to 6 months to gain a weight of 2 kg live weight depending on the type of feed used. Rabbits have small body size and therefore have a low daily feed requirement. It has a short generation interval with a high reproductive potential. The ability to utilize forages and fibrous agricultural by-products makes it favourable for meat production by families. Rabbit meat is a white meat with low fat content and exceptionally low cholesterol level. This serves as a good marketing strategy to introduce rabbit meat to hospitals and as a healthy meat.
Local rabbit colony farming can help to keep the price down and reduce the need for transporting meat from one town to another. Commercial feed pellets can be used in emergencies. As a stand-alone operation, the small colony farm will need a total of about 50-60 breeder does to yield 1200 rabbits in a year. With 2 kg life weight and a 60% dress-out of rabbits, this can yield about 100 kg of rabbit meat in a month. This farm scale can easily be replicated by rural families who may have sufficient land and provide a potentially very good income of about 18,000 Ksh per month (100 kg x 180 ksh). Unskilled labour or farm work offers about 4,000 Ksh per month as salary. Large industrial rabbit farms may have 10,000 breeder does. With the participation of the local community who have rabbit cages, the farm needs to keep less number of does or have higher meat production with the additional supply of weaned rabbits. The 1 acre farm can hold as many as 2000 rabbits but will require external input of green feeds. Further expansion is also possible.
The first income from the Rabbit Farm is expected in 3 months with a start up stocking of weaned rabbits Initial stock will come from an existing rabbit house at the School and from rabbit houses in Marima and Chogoria. The rabbit farm will be integrated with fish farming using water filled "canals" that are constructed around the the rabbit farm. The modest potential income per year from a 1½ acre rabbit-fish farm is about 366,000 Ksh (4,838 US$) per year (from 1200 kg of rabbit meat @180Ksh/kg and 1500 kg of fish @100Ksh/kg) or 30,000 Ksh per month. The high potential income for the whole project including other integrated activities from the project site could be twice as much since quality rabbits and choice cuts could see at 350 Ksh/kg to supermarkets and hotels.
The Nazareth Sisters manage a large hospital and rabbit meat will be introduced as a health food and white meat. Other consumer markets will be boarding schools where meat is usually served once a week. A board school with 700 students require about 45 kg of meat per week. "Nyama choma" is a popular un-marinated grilled lamb that is served at about 250-350 Ksh per kg. If rabbit meat can be distributed to local road-side grillers who sell ¼ kg grilled meat at 75 Ksh or more, it will give an income margin of at least 120 ksh per kg of meat sold. Thus a few hours of work in the evening, and also sell fried/smoked fish can provide a good part-time income.
5. Plan and Execution
The community project will be implemented within 12 months.
5.1. Community Group (ARC project)
Step 1: 50 families will be selected with the help of the School director. Five teams with about 10 families each will be created. With the help of each team leader, a questionnaire survey will be made on status and needs for backyard rabbit keeping. Briefing on project concept and partnership will be organized.
Step 2: improvement and construction of rabbit cages, exchange of information on rabbit keeping methods, training classes on rabbit keeping will also be organized. A monitoring system needs to be developed by the families to ensure e.g. proper hygiene, records keeping as well as trouble shooting.
5.2. Rabbit Colony Farm (SCC Project)
Step 1: to clear formalities related with establishment of rabbit farm with the Meru Town Council
Step 2: to establish rabbit colony farm (pending funding from the Swedish Catholic Church, and other sources). Detailed mapping of site, landscaping, and preparation of breeding stock can start in early 2010. Landscaping includes a stepwise construction of elevated burrow area in each enclosure using excavated soil from start-up peripheral trench (1-2 m wide), planting of foliage hedges, testing water uplift method in river and collection of rocks for and construction of mini-shelters for the rabbits, etc..
Step 3: to stock enclosures in a stepwise manner, irrigation of pasture in enclosures, ensure security against thefts and predators, construction of farm shed and workshops, establish market links to ensure a regular supply with specific clients, etc.
5.3. Fish Farming (SCC Project)
Step 1: involve school and local community in the digging of an initial 1-2 meter wide and ½ m deep peripheral trench around the farm. Arrange payment/benefit options to participants.
Step 2:. Stepwise widening of trench to 10 m to serve as the fish canal/ponds and planting of wetland plants along the outer edges of the canal and stocking with fish frys (Tilapia and Catfish).
Step 3: Marketing fresh fish (2011) and smoking fish
5.4. Waste bio-recycling (SCC Project)
Step 1: use biomass sweepings from the rabbit feeding areas for vermiculture/vermicompost making and use earthworms as fish feed.
Step 2: use rabbit offal and earthworms as fish feed. Rabbit heads can be crashed and fed to fishes also. Alternatively, crush mass can be used to grow insect larvae which is then fed to fishes. If colonised by black soldier flies, then houseflies will not colonise the biomass.
5.5. Value-added Products (ARC Project)
Efforts will be made to investigate opportunities for smoking fish, and how to cook rabbit heads (as already a delicacy in some parts of China) and rabbit brain omelette, tanning of rabbit hides and using hides and skulls to make souvenirs. In the diagram http://www.globetree.org/africa/ndekero/ibs-ndekero-ws.jpg , there are other options for integrating other income generation activities.
5.6. Rabbit Breeding Stock (SCC Project)
Prepare Globetree's existing 3 rabbit projects (2009) to provide breeding stock to the rabbit farm.
5.7. Security (SCC Project)
Improve security at farm. Theft is a very common problem. A farm shed is needed for the bucks, work tools, slaughterhouse, security guard, etc. An alternative security that can reduce costs is needed and will need to involve the whole community. The farm will need emergency car-battery powered lighting and can take advantage of the darkness to set up "traps" and simple alarms.
5.8. Replication of farm concept (2011)
6. Expected Results (end of 12 months) and Risks
6.1. Expected Results
The production of meat rabbits of rabbit-fish project should be operational and yield at least 100 kg of rabbit meat per month. All other related activities for rabbit production should be initiated or operational; e.g. breeding with bucks, catching rabbits in feed enclosures, slaughter facilities, tanning hides, feed collection by parents/workers, monitoring and records, etc.
ARC project should have five teams with total of 50 families established, training, and a monitoring and support system implemented for backyard rabbit keeping. Partnership and system for delivery of weaned rabbits and broilers on a regular basis to the farm also be operational too. Data on improvement of income would be available with a 2nd survey.
Start-up peripheral trench completed and fish canal/ponds constructed in stages. All ponds should be stocked for harvest in 2011.
Rows of foliage hedges planted with gardening activities outside the rabbit farm..
6.2. Risks
There is a risk that time plan will be postponed to Aug/Sept 2010 if ARC funding (20,000 US$) is not available. In such a case, Round prize money will be used for a preparatory trip in early 2010.
There are misinformed people and others who think that successes in other countries can be quickly replicated in SSA. The risk is that they can spread bad media/publicity about their failures and this will have negative impact on the rabbit meat industry. Success in rabbit farming in China was basically due to a switch from poultry to rabbits because of the birdflu, the infra-structure was already there and introduction of rabbit meat to the Chinese was very much welcomed as they eat all types of foods. In Kenya and SSA, the situation is completely different. While backyard rabbit keeping exists, the attitude of commercial producers is predominantly a monopoly business and to make rabbit meat a luxury meat with a niche market and to price it as high as possible.
Predation by dogs and thefts represents the highest risk in the farm operation even with the trench and fish canal. Other risks are fire ants and rats which need to be systematically eliminated. Rabbit diseases are considered as limited.
7. Partners: Experience and Skills
7.1. Partner Organizations:
(i) Nazareth Sisters (Meru, Kenya),
(ii) Globetree (Stockholm, Sweden. www.globetree.org);
(iii) Rabbit Network Kenya (www.globetree.org/africa/rabbit-net)
Nazareth Sisters have management skills as they manage/support two orphanages, a primary day school, a boarding secondary school, a hospital and a 30 acre farm. At the farm, the Sisters already were keeping a few rabbits. In 2009 it gained more experience from a rabbit house that was built as a Globetree project and 4 teams of school children took care of the rabbits. http://www.globetree.org/africa/ndekero/index.htm. Nazareth Sisters will help identify poor parents to work part-time at the rabbit farm. Nazareth Sisters are well placed socially in Meru town and manage the biggest hospital in Meru town. Nazareth Sisters also work in other cities in Kenya and Uganda and is a member of the Association of Sisterhood Kenya (http://www.aoskenya.org) that in turn is connected to the catholic nuns all over the world.
Globetree Association (Sweden) works with organizations that care for orphans and disadvantaged/vulnerable children. It supports a Kenyan NGO since 2001. One of the project activities is income generation. In 2008, Globetree had project funding and constructed 7 rabbit houses in Kenya. http://www.globetree.org/africa/rabbit-net/projects.htm. Three were cage systems but the other 4 were a hydrid cages where rabbits have access to open space. Rabbits in this hydrid system are healthier with less mortality of young rabbits.
Rabbit Network Kenya (http://www.globetree.org/africa/rabbit-net) started off as a network of 7 project partners and local coordinators. It has e-groups with people who are interested in raising meat rabbits in Africa. It cooperates with Rabbit Network Cameroon and organizes Internet seminars, e.g. with members of the World Rabbit Science Society (USA) and its Sub-Sahara Branch in Nigeria. These networks will provide the technical and professional advice that the Ndekero project may need. SSA Branch of the World Rabbit Science Association is in Nigeria. Ndekero rabbit colony farm can provide SSA scientists with the opportunity to study the system, monitor productivity and its material flow analysis.
7.2. Skills and Experience
Sr Margaret Eva Wangachi (School Director; +254728 235485)
Sr Margaret is the Director of the primary school with 200 children. She has overall responsibility for the school and participates in other management activities of the Nazareth Sisters. Further Nazareth Sisters has a very transparent accounts management at the school with very good book keeping routines.
Jacky E.L. Foo (Program officer at Globetree on "Environment and Sustainable Development"; +46704805898);
JF is also the coordinator of the Integrated Biosystem Network which was established for the United Nations University (since 1995) and later merged with the International Organization of Biotechnology and Bioengineering. The IBS Network deals with integrated farming systems, bio-conversion of wastes, productive wastewater treatment, etc. JF has coordinated and implemented projects in Fiji, Western Samoa, Cambodia, Cameroon, Uganda and Kenya. (http://www.globetree.org/jackyfoo ; http://www.globetree.org/jackyfoo/fiji ; http://www.globetree.org/jackyfoo/icibs, http://www.globetree.org/jackyfoo/ic-mfa). In Uganda (2002) and Cambodia (2005), he introduced rabbits to his workers/families and constructed rabbit houses in Kenya (http://www.globetree.org/africa/rabbit-net/projects.htm). JF is project team member of the World Academy of Art and Science project forum on "Youth and Employment in Africa". (http://www.worldacademy.org/content/gec-home).
8. Real World Impact
The Ndekero Rabbit Colony Farm will be the first pilot scale integrated rabbit-fish system in SSA. It is also the first colony farm in SSA to produce at least 100 kg of rabbits per month. It offers a model that can be replicated by families who have sufficient land space and the model can be expanded into a larger scale operation. If the project is replicated in small farms or used as a model for large farms, the real world impact will be the improvement of family and rural economy, and the creation of jobs in rural areas. This will have multiple impacts in all sectors and will help alleviate poverty in SSA.
The Ndekero Challenge is a partnership of the rural community and the rabbit farm and connects the families to the market. The project also addresses the issue of poor families with school children who risk dropping out because parents may not have cash to pay for school fees. The project will offer part-time jobs to rural women. It is thus a social enterprise because the farm will extend its services and profits to rural women, children and villagers. In SSA, this project is particularly relevant because it provides a system that encourages backyard rabbit keeping and partnerships. Women and children will benefit directly.
Rabbits are small animals or micro-livestock and can be eaten in one meal so that refrigeration is not required. It can be sold alive and taken home for slaughter or done on site and sold. Thus it helps to reduce harvest loss due to inefficient means of transportation, storage, refrigeration and packaging in SSA. Another aspect is water resource management through fish farming. Surface water and river water can be held for a productive purpose, enriched with nutrients in the process and then used for irrigation of crops.
There will be an increasingly important role of micro-livestock in the SSA as trends from Asia and Latin America has indicated due to reduced access to pasture land for large livestock (goats, cattle, camels), climate change that is causing drought in many countries, urbanization and mega-cities. Rabbit keeping apartment balconies will continue also as a trend. Another future trend in mega cities is "vertical agriculture". City people are already doing it on their balconies and roof tops. The next step is : agriculture in a multi-storey building. (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/24/opinion/24Despommier.html?_r=2). The Ndekero Challenge provides a different perspective as it advocates raising rabbits in colonies (not in cages but in open, vegetated enclosures). In cities that have green parks, such a rabbit colony farm could be an added recreation attraction for city folks and can supply meat to restaurants and souvenirs to shops.
When you have plant rejects and residues, micro-livestock such as rabbits will play the important role of a protein converter. This is in the offing for city dwellers. I remember in the mid 90s, I went to a circus performance in Osaka on the 4th floor of a building and they had all the animals there.
So why not ... rabbits in vertical agriculture and rabbit colonies farms in green parks in cities !
The rabbit-fish system is an integrated zero-waste system because all wastes are recycled or used.
(i) wastes from the rabbit colony enclosures are used to grow earthworms and produce vermi-compost. Earthworms used as fish feed and vermicompost as an organic fertiliser
(ii) fish pond water is used for crop irrigation, crop residues used as feed for rabbits.
(iii) rabbit hides is tanned and used to make new products
(iv) rabbit offal and earthworms used as fish feed. Blood can be coagulated and used as fish feed.
Got a suggestion on how to make this idea even better?
REMIX IT!
