Value Addition to Poultry Manure

Transforming waste into wealth

Value Addition to Poultry Manure is a process that transforms chicken manure into a nutrient-rich organic fertilizer. This practice enhances its suitability for plant growth while mitigating potential issues like pathogens and unpleasant odors. Each chicken produces about three to five kilograms of manure monthly. To handle it properly, composting is essential to detoxify the manure and minimize ammonia loss. Optimal composting conditions include covering the pile and retaining liquid, as a significant portion of nitrogen exists in urine. Additionally, operating a free-run chicken production system or collecting manure for composting adds value to this resource, reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

7•7

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 7/9; level of use 7/9

Positive or neutral impact

Adults 18 and over: Positive high
The poor: Positive high
Under 18: Positive high
Women: Positive high

Positive or neutral impact

Climate adaptability: It adapts really well
Adaptability for farmers: It helps a lot
Biodiversity: It helps them grow and thrive
Carbon footprint: It reduces emissions a lot
Environment: It makes a big difference
Soil quality: It makes the soil healthier and more fertile
Water usage: It uses a little less water

Problem

Pathogens and Unpleasant Odors: Fresh chicken manure can contain pathogens like salmonella, damage plant roots, and emit an off-putting odor.
Underutilization: Chicken manure is seldom used directly due to these issues.
Environmental and Social Liabilities: Large-scale poultry farms produce massive amounts of manure, leading to unpleasant odors, groundwater leaching, and methane emissions.
Waste Management: Proper handling and disposal of manure from commercial farms pose production costs.
Reduced Reliance on Chemical Fertilizers: By transforming manure into safe organic fertilizer, this technology promotes sustainable agriculture and soil fertility enhancement.

Solution

Pathogen-Free Organic Fertilizer Production: The technology converts chicken manure into a safe, nutrient-rich organic fertilizer through composting and value addition, eliminating harmful pathogens and ensuring plant health and human safety.
Sustainable Mitigation of Environmental Impact from Poultry Manure: The technology transforms raw chicken manure into valuable organic fertilizer, significantly reducing environmental impact. It curtails odors, prevents groundwater contamination, and mitigates methane emissions, benefiting both the environment and local communities.
Cost-Efficient Poultry Waste Management through Fertilizer Production: The technology offers a cost-effective solution by repurposing chicken manure into a valuable organic fertilizer. This not only reduces waste management costs but also creates an economically valuable product, enhancing overall farm profitability.

Key points to design your project

Poultry production empowers women financially through sales, asset building, and leadership roles. Women play key positions in poultry management, contributing to household income and social status. By transforming raw chicken manure into valuable organic fertilizer, this technology curtails unpleasant odors, prevents groundwater contamination, and mitigates methane emissions. Reduced reliance on chemical fertilizers aligns with climate goals. Additionally, this technology contributes to SDGs such as poverty reduction (SDG 1), enhanced food security (SDG 2), gender equality (SDG 5), and climate action (SDG 13). It transforms waste into wealth, benefiting both people and the environment.

Here are the key steps for a project promoting poultry manure value addition among farmers:

1. Assess and Select:

Understand current manure management practices and farmer interest in value addition.
Select farmers based on suitability (farm size, ressource availability...) for adopting these practices.

2. Train and Build Capacity:

Train extension agents who will then train farmers on composting and value-added product creation.
Conduct awareness campaigns to educate farmers about the benefits of manure value addition.

3. Implementation and Support:

Organize workshops to train farmers on composting and value-added product production.
Facilitate the formation of farmer groups for knowledge sharing and market access.
Establish demonstration plots to showcase the composting process and product benefits.
Provide technical support and mentorship to farmers as they set up composting facilities.
Help farmers access financing for infrastructure and equipment.

4. Facilitate Market Access and Sustainability:

Organize events for farmers to share experiences and best practices.
Connect farmers with potential buyers of their value-added manure products.
Evaluate the project's impact on farmer adoption and long-term sustainability.
Advocate for policies that support widespread manure value addition practices.

Cost: $$$ 5,000—10,000 USD

drying and pelleting equipment

30,000 USD

organic fertiliser production plant of 15 ton per hour

3,000 USD

15 m3 anaerobic digester able to process 300 kg of poultry manure per day

IP

Open source / open access

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested

Countries where the technology has been tested and adopted
Country	Tested	Adopted
Benin	Tested	Adopted
Botswana	–Not tested	Adopted
Burundi	Tested	Adopted
Central African Republic	Tested	Adopted
Côte d’Ivoire	–Not tested	Adopted
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Tested	Adopted
Ethiopia	Tested	Adopted
Gabon	Tested	Adopted
Ghana	–Not tested	Adopted
Guinea	–Not tested	Adopted
Kenya	Tested	Adopted
Madagascar	–Not tested	Adopted
Malawi	–Not tested	Adopted
Mozambique	–Not tested	Adopted
Niger	–Not tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–Not tested	Adopted
Rwanda	Tested	Adopted
Senegal	–Not tested	Adopted
Sierra Leone	–Not tested	Adopted
Somalia	Tested	Adopted
South Sudan	Tested	Adopted
Tanzania	Tested	Adopted
Uganda	Tested	Adopted
Zambia	–Not tested	Adopted
Zimbabwe	–Not tested	Adopted