In Senegal, poultry farming is emerging as a transformative force, offering not only food security but also hope, economic empowerment, and resilience in the face of rural poverty. A new video documentary released by Couvoir Amar, a key partner in the African Poultry Multiplication Initiative (APMI), sheds light on how this vital sector is unlocking opportunities for women, youth, and communities across the country. Through the compelling stories of local farmers and vivid on-the-ground footage, the film captures the far-reaching benefits of the initiative and the role poultry farming is playing in reshaping lives.
The African Poultry Multiplication Initiative was launched with the mission to increase access to improved dual-purpose chickens, which are birds that provide both meat and eggs. In Senegal, this initiative is being implemented through strategic partnerships with local hatcheries, farmer cooperatives, and development organizations. Couvoir Amar has taken a leading role in ensuring that high-quality chicks are bred, distributed, and supported through local brooding centers, offering technical support and capacity-building to smallholder farmers. This approach not only boosts production but also ensures the sustainability and scalability of the poultry industry.
One of the most powerful aspects of the initiative in Senegal is its focus on empowering women. In many rural areas, women are the primary caretakers of poultry and often rely on it as a source of daily income. Through APMI, women are being trained in modern poultry management practices, biosecurity, vaccination, and nutrition. These skills enable them to produce healthier birds and increase their earnings. With improved income from poultry, women are now able to support their households, pay school fees for their children, and reinvest in their farms. This transformation is contributing to gender equity and economic inclusion in traditionally marginalized communities.
The contribution of poultry to the fight against food insecurity is equally significant. Protein, which is essential for children’s growth and development, can be found in eggs and chicken meat. The effort involves boosting household nutrition, especially in areas where malnutrition is common, by increasing the accessibility and affordability of poultry products. In the film, farmers talk passionately about how having a steady supply of eggs has improved their children’s health and decreased hunger in their homes.
The program is also giving young people, who frequently have few options in rural areas, a lifeline. Young people are being given the tools they need to become entrepreneurs and are being inspired to launch their own poultry businesses through focused outreach and training initiatives. Youth are learning how to properly manage production, market their products, and nurture chicks with the help of Couvoir Amar and other stakeholders. This is encouraging a new generation to view agriculture as a viable and fulfilling career choice in addition to lowering unemployment.
Overall, the African Poultry Multiplication Initiative, as demonstrated by the success stories in Senegal, is much more than a farming project—it is a holistic development tool. It is addressing critical issues like food security, gender inequality, youth unemployment, and rural poverty. The video by Couvoir Amar serves as a vivid testament to the power of poultry to create sustainable impact, and it is a call to action for more support, investment, and innovation in the agricultural sector. Through initiatives like these, Senegal is on a promising path toward resilience and inclusive growth.
