Women are the backbone of Zambia’s agriculture, contributing significantly to both cash crop production and family food security. The Tuyumepo Women’s Cooperative in Chilayabale, Chongwe District, illustrates this commitment. Initially focusing on novel goods such as commercial soya milk and okra coffee, the group saw chicken farming as a possible game changer in 2022.
Their confidence was spurred by a well-developed business strategy that received money from the World Food Programme. With 150,000 Kwacha (USD 5,600), they built a chicken coop and purchased 200 day-old chicks for broiler production. However, their initial enthusiasm was short-lived. Despite giving sufficient diet and immunizations, the hens died at a high rate, resulting in a financial loss.
This loss underlined the myriad problems that Zambia’s smallholder poultry growers confront. Limited availability to better breeds or day-old chicks, necessary immunizations, basic chicken health services, and quality feed all led to low productivity, high chick mortality, and an overall underperforming chicken value chain.
However, optimism was restored early this year with the introduction of the Southern Africa Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative – Livestock (AIDI-L) project in Bimbe. A sensitization program arranged by AIDI-L revived the Tuyumepo women’s interest in chicken rearing. AIDI-L, unlike earlier programs, provided not just beginning kits but also essential training on effective practices, therefore filling a major knowledge vacuum. This fresh confidence prompted the Tuyumepo Cooperative and other local farmers to attend training sessions at Kambekete Camp, Lusaka Province, on April 8th, 2024.
The training courses were led by a collaboration of Venture37, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and local government livestock officials and covered a wide variety of topics. Participants learned vital information on chicken health and housing management, as well as successful marketing and business growth tactics.
Seasoned commercial poultry producers, like as retired Captain Ceasar Chibiye from Kapiri District, were especially excited with the project’s emphasis on market connections. This has long been a significant barrier for small-scale businesses seeking to enter successful sales in the channels.
Seasoned commercial poultry producers, like as retired Captain Ceasar Chibiye from Kapiri District, were especially excited with the project’s emphasis on market connections. This has long been a significant barrier for small-scale businesses seeking to enter successful sales channels.
Laurence Ochieng, an ILRI veterinarian, was delighted with the participants’ enthusiasm and effort. He expressed confidence that the scheme will considerably boost chicken farming in the target areas. The AIDI-L initiative, funded by the United States Agency for International Development, will run for two years and seek to empower 15,000 small-scale poultry-keeping households.
The initiative takes a two-pronged strategy, addressing production and market difficulties. To begin, it will expand access to enhanced dual-purpose backyard village chicks, a breed noted for its resilience and appropriateness for small-scale businesses. Second, it will work to reduce chick mortality by universal immunization against economically significant illnesses such as Newcastle Disease.
This comprehensive approach goes beyond the immediate training sessions. The initiative will use media advisories to educate a larger audience on the benefits of vaccines and better poultry husbandry techniques. This vast information transmission has the potential to have a domino effect, benefiting thousands of homes throughout Zambia.
The AIDI-L project’s emphasis on training and market connections represents a significant step forward. By providing participants with the information and contacts they need to succeed, the initiative enables them to overcome the conventional barriers that smallholder poultry producers confront. This comprehensive approach, combined with the dedication of participants such as the Tuyumepo Women’s Cooperative and experienced farmers such as Captain Chibiye, has the potential to significantly increase chicken farm productivity and empower thousands of Zambian households, thereby increasing their income and food security.
