UGA researchers have received more than $440,000 as part of a collaborative research, outreach and education program aimed at encouraging sustainable poultry production in the West African country of Mali. This project is part of a research program at Colorado State University and is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development in Mali under a $5.25 million Poultry and Pastoralism Associate Award.
This three-year program will be led by faculty in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences’ departments of poultry science and agricultural and applied economics and the College of Veterinary Medicine pathology department. The program will be implemented in cooperation with the Mali Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, U.S. Agency for International Development Mission in Mali, the Malian Extension Service and faculty at Colorado State University.
During the next three years, a small but expandable model poultry hatchery will be built in Mali to serve as a hub of poultry research, outreach and education. Research on small flock production will take place at this center, as will outreach, training and education on poultry husbandry and marketing. In addition, the hatchery will serve the regional community by rearing and then supplying healthy baby chicks to farmers. Ultimately, this center will be a classic demonstration project to help transfer poultry-rearing technology to producers, government agencies and development organizations, while inspiring similar programs throughout the country and the region.
