The Technosave Project has partnered with the Zambia Development Agency ZDA to build capacity of small and medium scale poultry farmers in Luanshya district under its village chicken commercialization project.
Project Technical Services Manager, Daisy Kamanga said the project has offered practical training to poultry farmers on village chicken production, through anchor farmers using demonstration farms.
Ms. Kamanga however noted that the training lacked the business aspect, which she said posed a major marketing challenge to farmers.
She observed that while the project offered training on chicken production, it lacked a business component, hence the partnership with the ZDA to conduct training in business management and entrepreneurship.
She added that the project that has been running in the district for three years, has resulted into the creation of demonstration farms, the recruitment of new farmers, and the formation of a cooperative union that helped farmers to market their produce.
ZDA Enterprise Development Officer, Obby Banda said the training programme will focus on business development services to build capacity in entrepreneurial and business management skills in farmers.
Mr. Banda added that the training programme will also be extended to enhance market linkages so that farmers can market their produce both in Luanshya and to other parts of the country.
He said his team is in the district to conduct a needs assessment in order to ascertain the needs of the farmers before rolling out the training programme.
He further explained that the needs assessment will further help ZDA to customize the training programmes to suit the farmers’ needs in business and entrepreneurial services.
And Luanshya District Commissioner Patrick Maipambe has welcomed the development, saying incorporating the business aspect to chicken production would help grow the poultry sector in the district.
Mr. Maipambe observed that once empowered with knowledge, the farmers would be able to market their produce.
He said this would encourage more farmers to join the village chicken commercialization programme.
He has since implored farmers in the district to join the local chicken commercialization programme.
Mr. Maipambe added that the Patriotic Front government was creating an enabling environment to allow for the diversification of the economy to the agriculture and livestock sectors.
Technosave is running a village chicken commercialization project in which it has empowered poultry farmers in Luanshya district through the provision of training and inputs.
The project, which commenced three years ago, has benefited over 2,000 farmers through the provision of inputs, including day-old chicks and equipment.
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OTHER AREAS Ive BEEN TOLD LOTS OF INFIGHTING AND DIPPING INTO THE KITTY