Dumisani Dube | Harare | Zimbabwe A group of 10 young farmers in Shurugwi’s Ward 11 are reaping the rewards of venturing into poultry farming, transforming their livelihoods and contributing to the local economy.

The farmers, under a contract farming arrangement with a leading poultry producer in Gweru, currently maintain an average of 7,000 broiler chickens in their modern fowl run. This venture, initiated in 2020 with support from Technoserve and funding from Anglo American Unki Mines, has seen remarkable success.

“We had very little experience when we started,” recalls one of the farmers. “But thanks to the technical guidance from Technoserve and the offtaker, we’ve managed to significantly reduce mortality rates.”

The offtaker, a key partner in the project, provides all necessary inputs, including day-old chicks and feed, while also offering continuous technical support to the farmers. This ensures optimal bird health and maximizes productivity.

The project’s impact on the farmers’ lives has been profound. With consistent earnings of between US$2 900 and US$4,100 every six weeks, these rural residents have experienced a significant boost in their income. This newfound financial stability has enabled them to send their children to school and improve their overall living standards.

“This project has completely changed our lives,” another farmer enthused. “We now have a sustainable source of income and a brighter future for our families.”

The initial investment from Anglo American Platinum, Unki Mines social development program, which included the construction of fowl runs, boreholes, and installation of solar lighting, has proven to be a catalyst for economic growth in the community. The project is now self-funding, with the farmers reinvesting their profits to expand their operations and increase production capacity.

While challenges such as weather fluctuations, charcoal fuel shortages, and recent water scarcity have been encountered, the farmers have demonstrated remarkable resilience in finding solutions. Their strong self-governance structure, guided by a strict group constitution and bylaws, has played a crucial role in ensuring the project’s sustainability and success.

This inspiring story highlights the transformative power of community-driven initiatives and the potential for rural communities to thrive through sustainable agricultural ventures. It also highlights the importance of group work in achieving great success. The group also highlighted that access to financing is not much of a challenge once a financial institution sees their books. Interesting enough is that they have had several financial institutions offering to finance them which is something rare in the current economic climate especially for small holder farmers. This is a model which should be copied and implemented in other sectors as well.

Dumisani is an agricultural & compliance expert and lead consultant at fresh solutions Africa. He can be reached via email at freshsolutionsafrica@gmail.com.

The experiment started in December 2023 where 3 plants provided 5kgs of harvest. Some of the seeds harvested were distributed to 40 members at 5 seeds per individual. Throughout the year hundreds have benefited from the seeds and now the time we have been waiting for has come. The rain season has come and hundreds of our members now going commercial.

The question could be why are we obsessed with the Madagascar Lima Beans? And our response is that it is the most economic plant as it does not require a lot of input costs such as fertilizers, pesticides and maintenance. The explosive growth rate and high yields, the solution most farmers across the continent are looking for.

And the plants can go on producing harvests on a constant basis up to 7 years provided there is constant watering. With Climatic Change now reality, food security across Africa can be easily secured at very little cost. For small businesses, the beans provide food and more importantly; capital. Go commercial and harvest several tonnes for sale and capital for businesses, secured.

Madagascar Lima Beans from Ruwa based Farai Aleck Katsere

Backyard Madagascar Lima Beans from Bulawayo based Trymore Nzou.

Progress from Ruwa based Lincoln Matongo.

The next update is coming in January when we assess the progress of our members.