He said farmers could improve their household incomes if they modernised the rearing of the local breeds.

Dr. Kabakiraho was speaking on 17 September at a meeting of farmers involved in commercial local chicken rearing at the district council hall in Kabale town.

He informed the farmers that his office had free vaccines for the prevention of poultry diseases that used to discourage people from engaging in the enterprise.

The New Vision reports that the main facilitator at the workshop, Dr Salim Kizito, of Uganda Local Chickens Association, said local breeds, if cared for well, yield better results than the exotic chicken.

Dr Kizito invited local chicken farmers to join the association so that they can lobby for modern hatcheries from the Government.

He said rearing chicken is beneficial since it requires less time and few resources.

Moses Mwesigwa of the Uganda Local Chicken Breeders Association, which convened the workshop, said they would open an office in Kabale town for farmers to access information and quality birds and feeds.