These birds represent an opportunity to build a better life for her and her family. She earned $250 from the sale of her first flock, money that she used to pay school fees for her two children who attend the nearby St Mary’s Secondary school.
She has the potential to raise a new flock every year and supplies individuals, supermarkets, company canteens and restaurants. Compared to horticulture that dominates many projects in her neighbourhood, rearing chickens represents a more dependable source of income for the Mharakurwa family.
“Horticulture is dependent on rainfall and the erratic availability of municipal water. With raising chickens, I have more control over the outcome. I intend investing more funds in my barn and increasing the profits from rearing chickens,” said a confident Mharakurwa.
United voice
Her poultry project began in 2009 and was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Food for Progress programme, which brought together a wide range of partners, both public and private, to strengthen the Zimbabwean poultry industry.
Several young women secured start-up funding for poultry projects. Coordinator Patricia Ncube said one of the first steps was to bring local producers together to create a national poultry association.
“This project has encouraged healthy competition among poultry farmers and has resulted in uniting them and providing domestic producers with a unified voice,” she said.
“We recognised the potential of poultry farming to create jobs and economic opportunities in the country and launched a comprehensive programme in 2009. The benefits for the people in the project will be long-term,” she added.
Credit facilities
To boost her poultry business, Mharakurwa has formed business connections with local companies. “I am very pleased that I have been connected to some local poultry companies. I now enjoy credit facilities – through which I receive chicks, feed and vaccinations up front. Costs are deducted when I sell the full-grown chickens to the processors,” she said.
“This project has changed my life and the market is good. I am now able to pay for my basic needs. I have managed to employ more women and I am looking forward to expanding the business and creating additional employment,” she added.
One of her employees, Jesca Zindoga, said: “I am very privileged to have been offered employment here. I am now able to access health care and most important, I am now able to send my children to school.”
Members of the community in Chikanga high density suburb have also benefited, as they buy chickens and the off-cuts at cheaper prices than those charged by conventional stores.
“We have benefited a lot from this project. She (Mharakurwa) employs some women from the suburb and most of us are living better lives thanks to the project as we are now eating healthier meals at more affordable prices,” said one of the residents, Chioniso Siyakurima.
Healthy meals
Mharakurwa says the government and other partners should now work together to empower small-holder poultry farmers to ensure the safety of the growing industry.
“We need the government to help strengthen the public veterinary service, which will contribute to improved animal health and a safer food supply,” she said.
Mharakurwa believes the poultry industry still faces challenges as it continues to grow, but with the foundation of skills and knowledge she is poised to ensure that farming chickens can help change even more lives.
Post published in: Agriculture