By Our Reporter 

Kalaki District – Poultry farmers in Ousia Parish, Apapai Sub-county, Kalaki District, have been urged to prioritize clean water and nutritious feed for their birds in a bid to enhance productivity and protect flocks from preventable diseases.

The call was made during an envisioning training held at St. Philips Church of Uganda in Ousia, organized by Cajila Africa Links Institute. The session brought together farmers from across the sub-county and focused on promoting sustainable poultry farming practices.

Julius Echodu, Sustainability Manager at Cajila Africa Links Institute, emphasized the importance of separating drinking water from food sources to prevent contamination and reduce the spread of worms and other infections.

“Poultry farmers must provide clean water at least twice a day—at 6 a.m. and 1 p.m.—and ensure proper hygiene in feeding systems,” Echodu said. “Avoid overmixing drugs in water and invest in good-quality drinkers to avoid your birds drinking dirty water shared with animals like dogs or rats.”

Echodu also advised that mature chickens require approximately 125–130 kilograms of food during their life cycle and should be kept in housing with adequate ventilation. He recommended a minimum of two square feet per bird to prevent overcrowding and promote healthy growth.

He further highlighted major poultry diseases prevalent in the area, including Coccidiosis, Fowl Pox, and Newcastle disease. He warned farmers against letting poultry share water sources with domestic animals, citing the risk of disease transmission, including rabies.

Christopher Onyimo, the farmer mobilizer for Apapai Sub-county, applauded the training initiative and expressed optimism about its impact.

“This training has shifted mindsets. Farmers are now more aware of the importance of good poultry management,” Onyimo said. “We encourage all participants to apply the knowledge gained for better yields and improved livelihoods.”

Farmers who attended the training thanked Cajila Africa Links Institute and Julius Echodu for the practical insights and pledged to adopt improved poultry management techniques to boost production and income.