Sundaymail Editor
Sunday Mail Reporter
MORE than 10 000 families from four rural provinces have received chicks under the Presidential Rural Poultry Scheme, as Government fast-tracks the distribution of 30 million hatchlings to vulnerable families countrywide.
Launched on August 25, the scheme targets three million families, with each household receiving 10 chicks that are 10 weeks old.
To date, the distribution has covered Masvingo, Midlands, Mashonaland East and Matabeleland South.
All provinces are expected to benefit.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Agriculture and Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS) chief director in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri, said the distribution of chicks is ongoing.
“We have distributed to four provinces, with Mashonaland East having received the greater share of 30 000, Masvingo with 20 000, while Midlands and Matabeleland South got 25 000 each,” he said.
“Mashonaland West was supposed to have their share last week but due to commitments that our Minister (Dr Masuka) had, it couldn’t happen. We are sure this month every province will have an initial share.”
Prof Jiri said the scheme will run for the next five years, with Government distributing free-range chicks considered by experts to be ideal because of their drought and disease-resistant characteristics.
The Government, Prof Jiri added, has engaged the services of the Zimbabwe Free Range Poultry Association (ZFRPA) to supply chicks.
Plans are underway to decentralise brooders to all districts to lower distribution costs and prevent transportation stress for the chicks.
So far, the Presidential Rural Poultry Scheme has begun to bear its first fruits, with poultry farmers having started to earn money by supplying ZFRPA with fertilised eggs. The scheme is designed to improve household food security, boost nutrition and increase rural income per capita.
Tinaye Agere
Online Reporter