Village Chicken Value

By Kedrick Sinyangwe

Poultry farming, especially village chicken production in Zambia is rarely the sole means of livelihood for the family but is one of the integrated and complementary farming activities contributing to the overall well-being of many households.

Village chicken production is a major income-generating activity from the sale of birds and eggs. Village Chickens and plays an important social-cultural role in many societies and consumption of village chickens provides a valuable source of protein in the diet

This value chain uses family labour and women are the major beneficiaries. Women often have an important role in the development of village chicken production as informal extension workers through their interaction to share knowledge and in disease identification and management.

In Luanshya district under Public Private Partnerships (PPP), Ministry of fisheries and Livestock is currently implementing a three year Village Chicken Value Chain project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through Agricultural Technology Demonstration Centre (ATDC) which is under the University of Zambia and Jilin Agriculture University of China.

Addressing Livestock farmers at Beracah Gardens in Luanshya during third quarter planning and review meeting, District Commissioner Patrick Maipambe implored farmers to take advantage of the village chicken value chain project because it will contribute positively to increased incomes at household level.

Mr. Maipambe said farmers have the experience in keeping the local chickens but they do not take it seriously as a business and that the project has answered most of the concerns which limit the farmers from making profits.

So far, K800, 000 has been invested in the initial stage of procuring point of lay breeding stock, incubators, and generators and assorted fencing materials in eight demonstration farms and one anchor farm.

District Fisheries and Livestock Coordinator, Thomas Banda said village chicken production has faced a number of challenges which created a barrier to the sustainable growth of the village chicken industry in Luanshya.

Mr. Banda said the village chicken value chain project is receiving overwhelming support from Musika and Techno Serve under the PPP and nine demonstration farms have so far received equipment, building material and drugs for improved chicken housing and management.

He said the project has come at the right time when Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock is encouraging smallholder farmers to venture into enterprise diversification especially now when the farmers are faced with the effects of climate change.

And Assistant Livestock Production Officer, Moses Phiri said currently, the Department of Livestock Development in Luanshya is conducting on farm trainings which include video shows and demonstrations on eight demonstration centres and one anchor farm.

Mr. Phiri said plans are under way for Musika to establish and set up an abattoir within the district.

One of the beneficiaries, Margaret Chikoti said Techno Serve and Musika have created an enabling environment where farmers will be marketing their local Chickens at various aggregation centers at reasonable price in the district.

Ms. Chikoti said farmers will be processing their own feed for their chickens at the anchor farm where a processing plant has been established.

The village chicken value chain project beneficiaries have pledged to support and show commitment towards the implementation of the relevant activities that are required in order to effectively impart technology transfer in village chicken management.

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