Poultry project eases school fees woes in Chimanimani
SOME villagers in the Gudyanga area of Chimanimani are making quick returns after starting a chicken rearing venture that is now yielding high spin-offs within a short space of time.
The Gudyanga area, which falls under Chief Muusha, boasts of various individual poultry projects. One of the shining examples is at Gudyanga Primary School that has managed to ease school fees woes for the community.
Established in February this year, the Step Ahead Poultry Project has a total of 28 members, consisting of 14 females and 14 males.
In their seven member committee, three are women.
30 percent of the generated revenue caters for administration and salaries and 70 percent goes towards school fees payment for under priviledged pupils.
The project has 1 773 chickens of Bosch breed in a 50 x 8m fowl run.
Project chairman Mr Dzimai Chinhete said they had started the poultry project as a substitute for crop production which hardly thrived in the area.
“We engaged well-wishers who financed this project. We opted for poultry because the Gudyanga area is not conducive for crop production as it falls under natural region five. We are contracted by National Organic, who supply us with the chicks, feed and buy the chickens from us,” he said.
All project members received training in poultry management before.
“The training has helped us prevent poultry diseases, manage our stocks and improved financial literacy among project members,” he added.
Mrs Siphatisiwe Mpofu said their business was helping improving school fees remittances.
“The venture is paying school fees for pupils.”
Mrs Mpofu challenged other women to embark on income generation projects.
“Gone are the days for women to wait for their husbands to bring income in the home.
‘‘Women should start their own businesses help fend for their families,” she said.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Agritex officer Mr Blessing Haa- tumwi who supervises the project.
“Youth should come on board and emulate what Step Ahead is doing. They need to broaden the scope and look at goat fattening and eggs production. They should create employment for themselves,” he said.