Afrika Onguko Okello

Afrika Onguko Okello

Research project: Assessment of farmers perceptions, preferences and cost-effectiveness of insect-based chicken feed in Kiambu County, Kenya

Afrika is a DRIP MSc scholar supervised by Dr. Michael Kidoido (icipe) and Drs. Jonathan Nzuma; David Jakinda (University of Nairobi). Her research is on the current challenges experienced in chicken production, particularly stemming from high feed cost, the future production of chicken products is at stake and consequently the ability of the industry to meet the demand for chicken products. The innovative insect-based chicken feed (IBF) that incorporates insect protein into the formulation diet is expected to revolutionize the chicken sub-sector and consequently lead to the emergence of an insect-value chain, to ensure mass production of insects and the sustainability of these two industries. The question, however, arises: are chicken-producers ready to take up such a novel feed and what improvements would they like to experience with this feed to avoid the setbacks that has prevented the chicken industry from realizing its full potential? Her study therefore seeks to evaluate the role of perceptions of farmers towards the IBF and their willingness to pay (WTP) for the attributes of this feed.

Afrika obtained her undergraduate degree from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (BSc. Agricultural Economics and Rural Development). She is currently undertaking her MSc. Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Nairobi.