Cooperative gets K33, 000 for chicken project
MORE than K33, 000 has been disbursed to Manyowe Cooperative of Mpika District by Government under the Smallholder Agribusiness Promotion Programme (SAPP).
The K33, 000 is out of the total grant of K120, 000 under SAPP.
SAPP, jointly supported by Government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is aimed at increasing the output of small-scale producers across the country.
According to Manyowe Cooperative chairperson, Webster Mutale, the cooperative was one of the two applicants that had benefited from the matching grant under SAPP.
Mr Mutale said the cooperative had applied for a group based matching grant under the small scale window in 2015 and its concept note on improved breeds of village chicken rearing was successfully approved in 2016.
He was speaking in an interview in Lusaka.
“Out of the 10 applicants for matching grant under SAPP, Manyowe cooperative is one of the two cooperatives in Mpika district that benefited from the programme.
“The approved total project cost was K120, 000. SAPP contribution was supposed to be K96, 000 while the beneficiary Cooperative contribution was 20 per cent of the total project cost, we managed to obtain K33, 600 from the project and contributed the required 20 per cent in the project,” Mr Mutale said.
He said the breakdown of the contribution was 10 per cent in cash and the other 10 per cent in form of labour and building materials.
Mr Mutale was hoping that the new project, Enhanced Smallholder Agribusiness Promotion Programme (E-SAPP) could provide the remaining balance to enable the cooperative to purchase more chicken, egg incubator and sink a borehole.
He said the cooperative had so far managed to set up a poultry house and fenced the project site.
Mr Mutale said currently, the cooperative was using its funds to purchase chickens for sale.