This, according to research, can create a huge internal market for local eggs, increase farmers' earnings and fight poverty in rural areas.

"Eggs can be produced all over the country, irrespective of region or climate," says Agha Ssekalala Sr, the managing director Uga-chick Poultry Breeders.

The proposal is to start with at least three eggs per week for every child. Each egg will cost sh150, adding up to sh5,400 for a full term.

Basing on 7.3 million children under the Universal Primary Education programme, assuming there are 250 school days in a year, 61,284,608 trays of eggs would be required. To meet this demand, 8,457,300 layers would be needed from local hatcheries. "This will raise the market for layer chicks," says Dr Flavio Oliviera of PAU. At the moment, there are around 3 million hybrid chicken, inclusive of layers and broilers.