Black Gold

In agricultural circles, poultry manure is often referred to as “black gold” due to its high value as an organic fertilizer rich in nutrients. When properly processed and applied, it can enhance soil fertility and support agricultural production.

Poultry manure contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK)—essential elements for plant growth—along with organic matter and calcium. It also helps improve the soil’s water retention capacity, aeration, and the activity of beneficial microorganisms.

However, the direct use of fresh manure can cause health and environmental problems because it may contain pathogens, weed seeds, as well as excess moisture and odors. Therefore, it must be processed, composted, or dried using modern scientific methods, then converted into a powder or granules that are easy to store, transport, and use.

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In Kuwait, poultry farm waste represents an opportunity to turn an environmental challenge into an agricultural and economic resource. Poultry farmers can collaborate to establish a specialized national project for collecting and processing this waste at a suitable site located away from farms and residential areas, producing safe organic fertilizer to serve local farms.

For the record, during my tenure on the board of directors of the Public Authority for Agriculture and Fish Resources, I submitted two memoranda, both included in my book “Agriculture in Kuwait – A New Vision.” The first, dated March 6, 2007, proposed designating sites for collecting accumulated fertilizers from poultry farms, located away from production centers. The second, dated January 22, 2008, proposed allocating a 50,000-square-meter site for collecting and utilizing the fertilizers in an organized manner. Regrettably, no action was taken on either proposal.

Previously, I worked on establishing the first manure drying center for one of the poultry companies in Al Wafra. It relied on continuous drying and regular packaging of the manure. Automated drying and the conversion of manure into pellets are among the best methods for handling large quantities, as they facilitate storage, transportation, and use in vegetable cultivation, tree planting, and agricultural landscaping.

Poultry waste is not merely waste to be disposed of; it is a resource that can be utilized economically and agriculturally. What we need is a shift from a culture of disposal to one of recycling and converting this waste into a product that serves soil and agriculture in Kuwait.

Former Member of the Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Agriculture