AECF Funded Project: Delivering Poultry Vaccine to Rural Farmers AECF Investment US$ 480,000 Grant US$ 120,000 Repayable Grant US$ 2,295,000 Brentec's matching funds
Project Duration: Jan 2011 – Dec 2016
Project Sector: Agribusiness
Project Summary Brentec has a new facility that produces poultry vaccine against Newcastle disease. The vaccine is thermo stable which allows it to remain effective for 3 days after reconstitution rather than the 2 or 3 hour window with the products currently imported into Uganda. Brentec needs to develop a distribution system in eastern Uganda to increase uptake of vaccines among owners of indigenous chickens in Uganda. This involves a projected 25 distributors and 250 community based vaccinators, fridges, tamper proof vaccination droppers, bicycles, training and other support. Brentec also needs to undertake a large marketing and promotion effort. Each bird ideally gets vaccinated 3 times per year. Brentec plans to produce up to 28 million doses per annum by 2016. The typical household goes from having an average of 5 to 15 and ultimately 30 birds. Every rural household has chickens, and, as a result, the project can reach literally millions of beneficiaries.|
The number of birds kept by each household will increase due to improved survival rates. An estimated 1,050,000 small holder chicken-rearing farm family members are expected to benefit. More benefits include: - The increased survival rates will give rise to a stable stable flock size and source of income from sale of eggs and birds.
- Thousands of jobs will be created such as community vaccinators and vaccine distributors for unemployed youths in the rural areas.
- Increased poultry numbers in rural areas will stimulate emergence of value addition businesses and creation of even more jobs.
The project is suitable for funding because: It has the potential to improve the lives of millions in Uganda (and beyond) where each year millions of chickens die from Newcastle disease. A US$ 0.11 vaccines used 3 times per year saves a $2.70 chicken.
Brentec will change the way the market system operates by pushing the vaccine directly through consumer marketing, promotion and advice. Distributors and vaccinators will receive training and support through the marketing and promotion effort, and the tools to move products. The strengthened distribution system will be pushing an improved product through an improved cold chain and last mile distribution system that will reach isolated rural households. | 
