Enhancing Household Resilience through Provision of Poultry and Small Ruminants

Save the Children recently distributed poultry and goats to households in Beitbridge and Matobo districts in an effort to empower vulnerable families and make it possible for them to generate income through business-focused projects.

This initiative is under the EU funded Stepping-up Post-Emergency Recovery and Resilience to Empower Vulnerable Communities in Zimbabwe project implemented by Save the Children in partnership with ICRISAT in the two districts.

Sehlukaniso from Matobo district received 20 Sasso chickens- a dual-purpose chicken breed that can be kept for both meat and eggs. She hopes the chickens grow well and breed more so that she can sell them and provide for her family.

“I am happy I am one of the people who received chickens and two 50kg bags of chicken feed. As a widowed woman who has no source of income, I feel uplifted. I am going to take good care of the chickens so that they grow well and breed more so that I can sell them and buy food for my family as well as pay school for my children.” said Sehlukhaniso.

Ntombiyelanga, 56, who takes care of her four orphaned grandchildren who are all below 10 years old received two goats under the project and she says the money she will make from the goat rearing project will help her take care of her grandchildren.

“I have four children who depend on me and it has been hard for me to provide for them as I do not have much. Things will get better now. I am hoping to make enough money from the goat rearing project and I will be able to give my grandchildren a better life.’’ alluded Ntombiyelanga.

So far, 1193 goats have been distributed to 621 households in the two districts and 17 060 chickens have been distributed to 853 households in Matobo district. The poultry and goat breeds distributed are highly adaptable to the local climate in both districts hence can tolerate the effects of drought. Prior distribution, the households were trained on proper management and upkeep of livestock.

All farmers under the project have received basic training in the production of small ruminants as well as the construction of goat pens and chicken runs.

The project seeks to improve economic resilience of 4500 vulnerable households in Matobo and Beitbridge district through improved husbandry of poultry and small ruminants among targeted households.