Poultry Production in Kuwait: Self-Sufficiency and Support Challenges

Agricultural expert Engineer Mohammed Al-Fraih told Al-Qabas that the status of poultry production companies in Kuwait is commendable, as they are first-rate national producers. They have succeeded in achieving self-sufficiency in table eggs at a commercial scale of one billion eggs per year, and this Kuwaiti product has become in demand globally, so we now export it to neighboring countries due to its quality. Prices don’t drop because costs are high and government subsidies are very minimal—only about 10 dinars per ton for the corn used in poultry feed, which is practically nothing. but look at egg prices in the Gulf countries, and you’ll find they’re more expensive than what’s available in the Kuwaiti market. Plus, the advantage of Kuwaiti eggs is that they’re fresh daily—you can find them at cooperatives and parallel markets.n\nWhat is the nature of this fresh production? He replies: Production takes place in cages because pastures are not suitable for Kuwait’s climate except for brief periods, and if we were to raise poultry in something resembling a pasture, we would need additional costly equipment...\n\nThe family cage\n\nAl-Farih adds that some countries have started using family cages for poultry. Instead of placing 7 to 9 hens in a single cage, there are now cages that can hold up to 150 hens each, which is better for the hens’ movement and for production. We ask him: Does the lack of movement result in eggs that do not meet international standards? He says: “If the chickens do not move, they do not meet European standards in terms of animal welfare alone, but movement has no bearing on the quality of the eggs produced.”\n\nOmega Eggs\n\nSome Kuwaiti companies are successfully producing Omega-3 eggs by using flaxseed oil feed, which is rich in this nutrient beneficial to the body. Meanwhile, other companies specialize in producing organic eggs, after providing their farms with organic feed, which they often obtain at high prices from France, Belgium, Lebanon, the UAE, and other countries.n\nLack of Support\n\nBut how can we encourage the production of organic eggs in Kuwait? Engineer Khaled Aref, one of the supervisors at the Burgan Farm, says: “Producers are naturally afraid of the additional costs, and the domestic market is weak and cannot support large-scale production of this specific type. The solution lies in supporting this type of feed sourced from reliable suppliers. We also recommend adopting the concept of family cages, as they are similar to open-range production. Furthermore, the responsible authority should provide preventive healthcare for the farms. This should go hand in hand with the farm’s own prevention program—so that poultry mortality rates decrease, production increases at a low cost, and great results are achieved.n\nThe Broiler Tragedy\n\nBroiler chicken companies do not receive support to expand their farms; they operate individually, even though they possess the expertise to undertake a national endeavor we can be proud of, as was the case with egg-laying chicken farm owners. But the real tragedy lies with those farms. From Al-Fraih’s perspective, the Agriculture Authority distributed eight farms in Al-Wafra (Sector No. 10) without utilities, and electricity has not reached them since 2007, resulting in losses for their owners, who began construction and then stopped. The question is: Who is responsible for the lack of utilities? He says: Certainly not the Agriculture Authority, though it remains responsible for urging the authorities in charge of public works, electricity, and water to provide these farms. Imagine—eight years and the problem persists, as if food security doesn’t matter to those authorities. That is why you find that broiler chicken production covers no more than 30% of our local consumption needs, which opens the door for companies from neighboring countries to enter the Kuwaiti market. In short, it can be said that the state is not serious about broiler chicken projects in Kuwait; otherwise, why is support lacking, infrastructure delayed, and difficult conditions and high interest rates imposed on production loans?!"}```_OF_TEXT_ 100% valid JSON. No extra text. No markdown. No comments. Single line. Done. Let's output. _of_thought_ {